Currently in Philly sports..
PHILLIES-
I'm glad Brock Stassi made the team. He may not be the future, but he gives the team some youth and freshness compared to Chris Coughlin. Plus Stassi is so glad to have made the team, I think he will do well as a bench player and back-up at first base for Tommy Joseph.
I look for Aaron Altherr to have a big year. He may be the fourth outfielder, but I think he will play a lot this summer, as the Phils will seek to rest veterans Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders to keep them fresh. Altherr brings power, speed and defense to the line-up. He was ready to claim an everyday spot in right field last spring before he hurt his wrist. Now, Altherr looks healthy and seems hungry to show what he can do. I envision him as a 40 doubles, 15 homers guy in the majors if given the chance to play and if he stays healthy.
I also like that the final two bullpen slots went to the pair of lefties, Morgan and Rodriguez. Luis Garcia may have good stuff but he is too inconsistent, and seems to have a problem with his nerves and composure in the big leagues.
Although Opening Day for the Philadelphia club starts on Monday, all season long I'll be keeping an eye on both Lehigh Valley and Reading. That's where the future is. Other than the progress of young prospects like Alfaro, Crawford and Williams, I'll be interested to see if the "Bash Brothers"- Cozsins and Hoskins- can hit with power at the triple A level where the pitching id tougher and the ballparks are more spacious. The Bash Brothers coming to Philly would completely change the Phils' offense in Citizens Bank Park. The teams till needs much to contend- including an ace no. 1 guy and a proven closer. But they are headed in the right direction, and their young stars look legit, which will either make Phillies fans happy or provide Phillies organization with much-valued trade chips down the road.
Aaron Nola struggled all spring in Clearwater. I wanted him to start the year at Lehigh Valley to work on hid control. He says he is healthy. He will probably start in the rotation as the no.5 starter, which will give him plenty of rest and take some of the pressure off Nola to compete against other aces on competitor's staffs.If Nola isn't right by Memorial Day, he is either hurt or he's just not as good as the organization imagined ( and, once again, the organization over-rated one of their young players). Time will tell. Buy luckily, even if Nola is shut-down again, the Phils have more starting pitching depth than in a long time to fill the gap.
EAGLES-
The free agent signings of Patrick Robinson and Chris Long this week were low risk- high reward. They help in the short-term, as the Birds look to stabilize their defensive line and defensive back situation. They still need to draft both positions heavily in a few weeks.But it lessens the urgency somewhat.
Draft speculation runs wild. About the only scenario I haven't seen speculated on recently ia trade on drat day plan of trading up in the first round to grab a certain player ( like last year when they selected Carson Wentz).
The schedule will be out in two weeks. Reports have the Birds asking for back-to-back roads games in the west coast with the Chargers and Rams. That way the Eagles could stay in California all week and avoid the grueling travel. Ideally, the Eagles would play on Sunday, then again on Thursday so the time on the West Coast is limited. Also ideally, the two California games would be late in the season, November or December, when both the Rams and Chargers should be ready to pack in losing seasons, and the warm LA weather gets the team away from the cold climate in the East.
FLYERS-
Despite the fact that the Flyers have been playing well this past week, it's too little, too late and they will not make a playoff berth this season. Give the squad credit for not giving up, but one wonders where the fire was previously when the hockey club needed to stay in the wild card race?
SIXERS-
The 76ers are playing out the string. Dario Saric should win the Rookie of the Year award after the season ends.But the real interest will be in May, when the Draft Lottery occurs, and in late June, when the team finally make their long-awaited selections in the draft.Summer will be a time to keep an eye on the recovery of Embiid, Okafor and Simmonds.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
IN THE NEWS- ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAKS ALLOW STUDENTS TO GIVE BACK
The Chicago Tribune offers the following article..
For many college students, spring break means following a well-established ritual- travel south, bask in the sun, drink beer and escape reality. But some students are finding there is an alternative, one that instead focuses on social issues like homelessness, the environment and working with people with disabilities.
This week, eight undergraduate students from the University of Missouri traveled to the Chicago area to work with adults with developmental disabilities at Aspire, a nonprofit organization. The students will work with the adults in classes such as horticulture and technology, helping them gain job training and gardening skills. They will also be sprucing up housing in the Chicago area with a coat of paint and joining residents for dinner and games.
Nice Keeley, a sophomore at Missouri, is on his first alternative spring break, which he sees as an opportunity to learn about the struggles that people with disabilities face.
He freely acknowledges that he is going against the grain.
"While it may sound corny to some people, I think it's an important thing to learn because as we move on from college and become members of a different community it's important for us to know what some people in communities are facing and if we can serve them in any way we can," said Keesey, a psychology major from the St. Louis area.
Meanwhile, students from Northwestern University and DePaul University are returning home from their spring breaks where they spent a week on service trips outside the classroom in places including a wolf sanctuary in Colorado and a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C.
The trips aren't free. Students help pay for transportation, food and housing but say the real-world experience gained and friendships formed with other students through such excursions is well worth it.
For example, students typically pay about $200 from domestic trips that don't require airfare and the school subsidizes part of the trip, making financial aid available, and students also rely on fundraisers to help cover costs, administrators said.
But even with the cost, there are signs that the concept is catching on.
Last year, a survey of 168 academic institutions reported nearly 23,000 students participate din more than 1,600 trips during the 2015-2016 school year, according to Break Away, a national nonprofit that provides training and support for the trips. That represented an increase from 16,700 students on 1,300 trips four years before that reported by 130 schools.
Break Away works with about 230 schools, including Northwestern, out of an estimated 1,000 that provide such programs.
Keesey said that the trips have given him a new perspective. Through the student-led college program, he had participated in three weekend projects to clean up a historical graveyard, paint walls of a thrift store and food bank and clear out a children's shelter.
"The manual labor stuff is not quite as glamorous and less personal but still necessary for organizations to function," Keesey said.
On their visit to Aspire, the Missouri students will get a tour of a new career academy under construction. Aspire works with about 1,000 children and adults with disabilities like autism and Down syndrome, said its chief executive, Jim Kales.
"These students are going to be the employees of the future," Kales said. " We want these young people to take the experience this week and impact the rest of their lives as far as them in the workplace and how they look at people they might potentially hire."
Parker Levinson's trip to Colorado's wolf sanctuary has reaffirmed her passion for wildlife conservation. The college junior said she also cherished the friendships she made with the dozen Nothwestern students while doing meaningful work like building a fence or feeding the wolves.
Amy Parker returned from Washington with a sense of purpose. The 22-year-old DePaul senior spent last week alongside seven other students volunteering at a men's homeless shelter. Now, she plans to push politicians for more resources dedicated to homelessness.
"It was great to understand my voice could do something about that," Parker said. "This is one of the trips I could forsee having the biggest impact on me."
Such trips are focused on meeting people who are experiencing poverty or marginalization, having one-on-one conversations and building relationships, said Emily LaHood-Olsen, ministry coordinator for service trips at DePaul.
'Service immersions offer students the opportunity to see and experience a realty that's different from their own," she said.
For many college students, spring break means following a well-established ritual- travel south, bask in the sun, drink beer and escape reality. But some students are finding there is an alternative, one that instead focuses on social issues like homelessness, the environment and working with people with disabilities.
This week, eight undergraduate students from the University of Missouri traveled to the Chicago area to work with adults with developmental disabilities at Aspire, a nonprofit organization. The students will work with the adults in classes such as horticulture and technology, helping them gain job training and gardening skills. They will also be sprucing up housing in the Chicago area with a coat of paint and joining residents for dinner and games.
Nice Keeley, a sophomore at Missouri, is on his first alternative spring break, which he sees as an opportunity to learn about the struggles that people with disabilities face.
He freely acknowledges that he is going against the grain.
"While it may sound corny to some people, I think it's an important thing to learn because as we move on from college and become members of a different community it's important for us to know what some people in communities are facing and if we can serve them in any way we can," said Keesey, a psychology major from the St. Louis area.
Meanwhile, students from Northwestern University and DePaul University are returning home from their spring breaks where they spent a week on service trips outside the classroom in places including a wolf sanctuary in Colorado and a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C.
The trips aren't free. Students help pay for transportation, food and housing but say the real-world experience gained and friendships formed with other students through such excursions is well worth it.
For example, students typically pay about $200 from domestic trips that don't require airfare and the school subsidizes part of the trip, making financial aid available, and students also rely on fundraisers to help cover costs, administrators said.
But even with the cost, there are signs that the concept is catching on.
Last year, a survey of 168 academic institutions reported nearly 23,000 students participate din more than 1,600 trips during the 2015-2016 school year, according to Break Away, a national nonprofit that provides training and support for the trips. That represented an increase from 16,700 students on 1,300 trips four years before that reported by 130 schools.
Break Away works with about 230 schools, including Northwestern, out of an estimated 1,000 that provide such programs.
Keesey said that the trips have given him a new perspective. Through the student-led college program, he had participated in three weekend projects to clean up a historical graveyard, paint walls of a thrift store and food bank and clear out a children's shelter.
"The manual labor stuff is not quite as glamorous and less personal but still necessary for organizations to function," Keesey said.
On their visit to Aspire, the Missouri students will get a tour of a new career academy under construction. Aspire works with about 1,000 children and adults with disabilities like autism and Down syndrome, said its chief executive, Jim Kales.
"These students are going to be the employees of the future," Kales said. " We want these young people to take the experience this week and impact the rest of their lives as far as them in the workplace and how they look at people they might potentially hire."
Parker Levinson's trip to Colorado's wolf sanctuary has reaffirmed her passion for wildlife conservation. The college junior said she also cherished the friendships she made with the dozen Nothwestern students while doing meaningful work like building a fence or feeding the wolves.
Amy Parker returned from Washington with a sense of purpose. The 22-year-old DePaul senior spent last week alongside seven other students volunteering at a men's homeless shelter. Now, she plans to push politicians for more resources dedicated to homelessness.
"It was great to understand my voice could do something about that," Parker said. "This is one of the trips I could forsee having the biggest impact on me."
Such trips are focused on meeting people who are experiencing poverty or marginalization, having one-on-one conversations and building relationships, said Emily LaHood-Olsen, ministry coordinator for service trips at DePaul.
'Service immersions offer students the opportunity to see and experience a realty that's different from their own," she said.
IN THE NEWS- CHUCK E. CHEESE'S EXPANDS SENSORY-FRIENDLY OFFERINGS
By Disability Scoop website..
Citing "overwhelming" interest, Chuck E. Cheese's says it will expand to be more accessible to kids with autism and other disabilities nationwide.
The children's entertainment center will offer "Sensory Sensitive Sundays at its 355 locations across the country beginning in April.
For the once-a-month events, Chuck E. Cheese"s welcomes kids with autism and other sensory issues two hours before opening to the general public. During these times, the lights are dimmed, music is turned down or muted and appearances by characters are more limited.
"Our tagline is where a kid can be a kid, and we want to ensure we extend this ideal to kids who otherwise may not be able to enjoy chuck E. Cheese's due to the sensory overload," said Ami Anderson, senior director of advertising and media at CEC Entertainment, the restaurant chain's parent company.
Chuck E. Cheese's first conducted a pilot of Sensory Sensitive Sundays in Attleboro, Mass. before rolling out the program at 54 locations in the Northeast earlier this year.
Sensory Selective Sundays will be held on the first Sunday of each month beginning April 2.
Citing "overwhelming" interest, Chuck E. Cheese's says it will expand to be more accessible to kids with autism and other disabilities nationwide.
The children's entertainment center will offer "Sensory Sensitive Sundays at its 355 locations across the country beginning in April.
For the once-a-month events, Chuck E. Cheese"s welcomes kids with autism and other sensory issues two hours before opening to the general public. During these times, the lights are dimmed, music is turned down or muted and appearances by characters are more limited.
"Our tagline is where a kid can be a kid, and we want to ensure we extend this ideal to kids who otherwise may not be able to enjoy chuck E. Cheese's due to the sensory overload," said Ami Anderson, senior director of advertising and media at CEC Entertainment, the restaurant chain's parent company.
Chuck E. Cheese's first conducted a pilot of Sensory Sensitive Sundays in Attleboro, Mass. before rolling out the program at 54 locations in the Northeast earlier this year.
Sensory Selective Sundays will be held on the first Sunday of each month beginning April 2.
IN THE NEWS- MOM SAYS TSA AGENTS TRAUMATIZED SON WITH DISABILITY
From The Dallas Morning News..
A mother who asked TSA agents at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for alternative screening for her son with special needs said they were " treated like dogs" and forced to miss a flight during an extensive security check, according to her Facebook post that has since gone viral.
But the Transportation Security Administration said in a prepared statement that it followed approved procedures to "resolve an alarm of the passenger's laptop."
Jennifer Williamson wrote Sunday morning that her son has sensory processing disorder and that she asked agents to "screen him in other ways per TSA rules."
An accompanying video shows a TSA agent patting down her son. The agent pats down his backside before moving to his front. She writes in the post they were kept for more than an hour in the "horrifying" incident.
The TSA disputed Williamson's account, noting in its statement that the passengers were at the checkpoint for about 45 minutes, including the time it took to discuss screening procedures with the teen's mother and the inspection of three carry-on items. The put-down took about two minutes, according to the agency.
Williamson's post had more than 89,000 shares by midday Tuesday.
"Let me make something else crystal clear," she wrote. "He set off NO alarms. He physically did not alarm at all during screening, he passed through the detector just fine. He is still several hours later saying 'I don't know what I did. What did I do?' I am livid.
"I wish I had taped the entire interchange because it was horrifying. We had two DFW police officers that were called and flanking him on each side. Somehow these power tripping TSA agents who are traumatizing children and doing whatever they feel like without any cause, need to be reined in."
The TSA said two police officers were called to mitigate the mother's concerns.
"The video shows a male TSA officer explaining the procedure to the passenger, who fully cooperates," the agency's statement reads. "Afterward, the TSA officer was instructed by his supervisor, who was observing, to complete the final step of the screening process."
Williamson could not be reached for comment.
A mother who asked TSA agents at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for alternative screening for her son with special needs said they were " treated like dogs" and forced to miss a flight during an extensive security check, according to her Facebook post that has since gone viral.
But the Transportation Security Administration said in a prepared statement that it followed approved procedures to "resolve an alarm of the passenger's laptop."
Jennifer Williamson wrote Sunday morning that her son has sensory processing disorder and that she asked agents to "screen him in other ways per TSA rules."
An accompanying video shows a TSA agent patting down her son. The agent pats down his backside before moving to his front. She writes in the post they were kept for more than an hour in the "horrifying" incident.
The TSA disputed Williamson's account, noting in its statement that the passengers were at the checkpoint for about 45 minutes, including the time it took to discuss screening procedures with the teen's mother and the inspection of three carry-on items. The put-down took about two minutes, according to the agency.
Williamson's post had more than 89,000 shares by midday Tuesday.
"Let me make something else crystal clear," she wrote. "He set off NO alarms. He physically did not alarm at all during screening, he passed through the detector just fine. He is still several hours later saying 'I don't know what I did. What did I do?' I am livid.
"I wish I had taped the entire interchange because it was horrifying. We had two DFW police officers that were called and flanking him on each side. Somehow these power tripping TSA agents who are traumatizing children and doing whatever they feel like without any cause, need to be reined in."
The TSA said two police officers were called to mitigate the mother's concerns.
"The video shows a male TSA officer explaining the procedure to the passenger, who fully cooperates," the agency's statement reads. "Afterward, the TSA officer was instructed by his supervisor, who was observing, to complete the final step of the screening process."
Williamson could not be reached for comment.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
BASEBALL QUIZ
As Opening Day approaches, another Baseball quiz...
1. Which of the following numbers have not been retired by the Red Sox?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 7
2. Rank the following teams by the number of pennants they have won.
A. Dodgers
B. Braves
C. Yankees
D. Cardinals
E. Giants
3. Which of the following teams has never had a 300-game-winning pitcher?
A. Braves
B. Yankees
C. Giants
D. Athletics
4. Name the first National Leaguer to win consecutive Most Valuable Player awards.
A. Roy Campanella
B. Stan Musial
C. Ernie Banks
D. Carl Hubbell
5. Which of the following teams didn't win a World Series between 1903 and 1953?
A. Braves
B. Cubs
C. Phillies
D. Indians
6. Rank the following center fielders by their career home run totals
A. Andruw Jones
B. Ken Griffey Jr.
C. Duke Snider
D. Willie Mays
E. Mickey Mantle
7. Nmae the last Rookie of the Year Awarrd winner to hit 30 homers that year
A. Bryce Harper
B. Will Myers
C. Buster Posey
D. Jose Abreu
8. Against whom did Sandy Koufax hit the first of his two career home runs?
A. Jack Sanford
B. Gaylord Perry
C. Juan Marichal
D. Warren Spahn
8. Name the most recent player to gather 200 hits in a season in each league
A. Steve Sax
B. Juan Pierre
C. Vladimir Guerrero
D. Al Oliver
9. Name the only team to come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit in the World Series twice
A. Red Sox
B. Pirates
C. Yankees
D. Tigers
E. Royals
10. Name the first pitcher whose career began after World War II to win 300 games
A. Warren Spahn
B. Sandy Koufax
C. Steve Carlton
D. Tom Seaver
E. Gaylord Perry
ANSWERS
1. A,B & D
2. C (40); D & E (23); A (22); B (17)
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. D (660); B (630); E (536); A (434); C (407)
7. D
8. C
9. B
10. E
1. Which of the following numbers have not been retired by the Red Sox?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 7
2. Rank the following teams by the number of pennants they have won.
A. Dodgers
B. Braves
C. Yankees
D. Cardinals
E. Giants
3. Which of the following teams has never had a 300-game-winning pitcher?
A. Braves
B. Yankees
C. Giants
D. Athletics
4. Name the first National Leaguer to win consecutive Most Valuable Player awards.
A. Roy Campanella
B. Stan Musial
C. Ernie Banks
D. Carl Hubbell
5. Which of the following teams didn't win a World Series between 1903 and 1953?
A. Braves
B. Cubs
C. Phillies
D. Indians
6. Rank the following center fielders by their career home run totals
A. Andruw Jones
B. Ken Griffey Jr.
C. Duke Snider
D. Willie Mays
E. Mickey Mantle
7. Nmae the last Rookie of the Year Awarrd winner to hit 30 homers that year
A. Bryce Harper
B. Will Myers
C. Buster Posey
D. Jose Abreu
8. Against whom did Sandy Koufax hit the first of his two career home runs?
A. Jack Sanford
B. Gaylord Perry
C. Juan Marichal
D. Warren Spahn
8. Name the most recent player to gather 200 hits in a season in each league
A. Steve Sax
B. Juan Pierre
C. Vladimir Guerrero
D. Al Oliver
9. Name the only team to come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit in the World Series twice
A. Red Sox
B. Pirates
C. Yankees
D. Tigers
E. Royals
10. Name the first pitcher whose career began after World War II to win 300 games
A. Warren Spahn
B. Sandy Koufax
C. Steve Carlton
D. Tom Seaver
E. Gaylord Perry
ANSWERS
1. A,B & D
2. C (40); D & E (23); A (22); B (17)
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. D (660); B (630); E (536); A (434); C (407)
7. D
8. C
9. B
10. E
2017 BASEBALL PREDICTIONS
Less than a week until Opening Day..Here are my 2017 Baseball predictions...
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
1. NATIONALS- Could be last year Washington has a chance for the World Series
2. METS- Injuries could make or break New York
3. PHILLIES- Philly shoots for ,500. Phils contend in '18.
4. MARLINS- Miami feels loss of Fernandez
5. BRAVES- Competitive with vets until prospects emerge. Stacked farm system.
CENTRAL
1. CUBS- Young and good, but no World Series this year.
2. CARDINALS- Always in mix
3. PIRATES- In tough division. Can't get over the hump.
4. BREWERS- Good thing Cincy is in same division. Milwaukee has prospects coming.
5. REDS- Long way away from contention
WEST
1. DODGERS- Year of LA. Finally make World Series
2. GIANTS- Always good, but odd number year. SF gets wild card
3. DIAMONDBACKS- Has stars but something missing
4. ROCKIES- Emerging stars. Can't contend with LA & SF
5. PADRES- Kids are a few years away.
Playoffs-
Wild Card- Giants over Cards
Division Series- Cubs over Giants; Dodgers over Nationals
NL Championship Series- Dodgers over Cubs
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
1. RED SOX- Boston goes for it again with Sale & young stars
2. YANKEES- NY has young stars & money to spend in future
3. BLUE JAYS- Contenders again with bats
4. ORIOLES- Could be first or could be last
5. RAYS- Team in flux
CENTRAL
1. TIGERS- Overtaking Cleveland will be tough-Have a hunch
2. INDIANS- Still have young, good team but in funk over 2016 World series
3. ROYALS- Retooling after great run
4. WHITE SOX- More trades for prospects on horizon?
5. TWINS- Still rebuilding team
WEST
1. RANGERS- Young players need to step up before core gets too old
2. ASTROS- Could overtake Texas if they fail
3. MARINERS- Not far off with prospects on bubble
4. ANGELS- Trout's last season out west?
5. ATHLETICS- Who knows with Billy Beane?
Playoffs
Wild Card- Indians over Astros
Division Series- Red Sox over Indians; Rangers over Tigers
AL Championship Series- Red Sox over Rangers
World Series- Red Sox over Dodgers in six games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
1. NATIONALS- Could be last year Washington has a chance for the World Series
2. METS- Injuries could make or break New York
3. PHILLIES- Philly shoots for ,500. Phils contend in '18.
4. MARLINS- Miami feels loss of Fernandez
5. BRAVES- Competitive with vets until prospects emerge. Stacked farm system.
CENTRAL
1. CUBS- Young and good, but no World Series this year.
2. CARDINALS- Always in mix
3. PIRATES- In tough division. Can't get over the hump.
4. BREWERS- Good thing Cincy is in same division. Milwaukee has prospects coming.
5. REDS- Long way away from contention
WEST
1. DODGERS- Year of LA. Finally make World Series
2. GIANTS- Always good, but odd number year. SF gets wild card
3. DIAMONDBACKS- Has stars but something missing
4. ROCKIES- Emerging stars. Can't contend with LA & SF
5. PADRES- Kids are a few years away.
Playoffs-
Wild Card- Giants over Cards
Division Series- Cubs over Giants; Dodgers over Nationals
NL Championship Series- Dodgers over Cubs
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
1. RED SOX- Boston goes for it again with Sale & young stars
2. YANKEES- NY has young stars & money to spend in future
3. BLUE JAYS- Contenders again with bats
4. ORIOLES- Could be first or could be last
5. RAYS- Team in flux
CENTRAL
1. TIGERS- Overtaking Cleveland will be tough-Have a hunch
2. INDIANS- Still have young, good team but in funk over 2016 World series
3. ROYALS- Retooling after great run
4. WHITE SOX- More trades for prospects on horizon?
5. TWINS- Still rebuilding team
WEST
1. RANGERS- Young players need to step up before core gets too old
2. ASTROS- Could overtake Texas if they fail
3. MARINERS- Not far off with prospects on bubble
4. ANGELS- Trout's last season out west?
5. ATHLETICS- Who knows with Billy Beane?
Playoffs
Wild Card- Indians over Astros
Division Series- Red Sox over Indians; Rangers over Tigers
AL Championship Series- Red Sox over Rangers
World Series- Red Sox over Dodgers in six games
Monday, March 27, 2017
OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING- REPORT OFFERS TIPS ON HOW TO GET AND STAY IN SHAPE
I wrote this piece for The Phoenix on July 14, 2006..
The famous Mayo Clinic recently issued a report on exercise and disability. The article provided some good tips for people who may have a disability, yet want to stay in shape.
Eating healthy is a key. And with any sort of physical exercise, always consult your doctor first. Otherwise, here are some good tips:
* Start slowly- Again, get your doctor's approval. Do some stretching to warm up. Always start slow and build up your endurance.
* Get creative- Wheeling or walking around your neighborhood is considered exercise. You don't need to go to a gym, or buy expensive exercise equipment to get a good work-out, Strength training is important, such as using resistance methods like Isometric exercises. Instead of wights or dumbbells, using soup cans or water bottles as weights have the same effect on your muscles.
* In the water- Swimming or water aerobics are great exercises. Water is very therapeutic.
* On the road- Of course, running or jogging is great exercise. So is power walking. Riding a bike is tremendous, but if you can't use your legs, you can still do bicycle exercises. Hand cycles are available. Just always remember to wear a helmet.
On the slopes- If you are really adventurous, you can have a disability and still ski. It's fun and good exercise. A Mono-ski is a device where one sits down in a chair and heads down the hill.
Other sports- Various sports which able-bodied people enjoy can also become adaptable to a disabled individual with certain modifications. For instance, volleyball can be great exercise, only with a bigger, lighter ball and a lower net. Tennis and golf are two sports which wheelchair users can play. Also, many communities have local wheelchair leagues in sports such as bowling, soccer, basketball and floor hockey.
Again, the key is each individual's condition. Everyone is different.Keep that in mind when choosing an exercise to meet your needs and situation.
* Keep it fun- Whatever you do, have fun doing it. Exercise and keeping in shape should be a fun experience, not a chore you dread to do.
Your reward? Better health and improved quality of life. Disabled or not, isn't that what we all want?
The famous Mayo Clinic recently issued a report on exercise and disability. The article provided some good tips for people who may have a disability, yet want to stay in shape.
Eating healthy is a key. And with any sort of physical exercise, always consult your doctor first. Otherwise, here are some good tips:
* Start slowly- Again, get your doctor's approval. Do some stretching to warm up. Always start slow and build up your endurance.
* Get creative- Wheeling or walking around your neighborhood is considered exercise. You don't need to go to a gym, or buy expensive exercise equipment to get a good work-out, Strength training is important, such as using resistance methods like Isometric exercises. Instead of wights or dumbbells, using soup cans or water bottles as weights have the same effect on your muscles.
* In the water- Swimming or water aerobics are great exercises. Water is very therapeutic.
* On the road- Of course, running or jogging is great exercise. So is power walking. Riding a bike is tremendous, but if you can't use your legs, you can still do bicycle exercises. Hand cycles are available. Just always remember to wear a helmet.
On the slopes- If you are really adventurous, you can have a disability and still ski. It's fun and good exercise. A Mono-ski is a device where one sits down in a chair and heads down the hill.
Other sports- Various sports which able-bodied people enjoy can also become adaptable to a disabled individual with certain modifications. For instance, volleyball can be great exercise, only with a bigger, lighter ball and a lower net. Tennis and golf are two sports which wheelchair users can play. Also, many communities have local wheelchair leagues in sports such as bowling, soccer, basketball and floor hockey.
Again, the key is each individual's condition. Everyone is different.Keep that in mind when choosing an exercise to meet your needs and situation.
* Keep it fun- Whatever you do, have fun doing it. Exercise and keeping in shape should be a fun experience, not a chore you dread to do.
Your reward? Better health and improved quality of life. Disabled or not, isn't that what we all want?
IN THE NEWS- COLLAPSE OF HEALTH CARE BILL LEAVES MEDICAID UNSCATHED
This from Disability Scoop..
A Republican proposal to overhaul the nation's health care system and fundamentally alter Medicaid is off the table- at least for now- and that's good news for people with disabilities, advocates say.
Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives withdrew their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, just before the measure was set to go to a vote Friday afternoon.
The move came as lawmakers acknowledged that the votes simply weren't there to pass the legislation.
"We came really close today, but we came up short," said House Speaker Paul Ryan. "We did not quite have the votes to replace the law. We're going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future."
The GOP bill called for sweeping changes to Medicaid that advocates said would seriously threaten home- and community-based services and other supports that people with developmental disabilities depend on.
Currently, Medicaid operates as an entitlement program with states receiving matching grants from the federal government to cover anyone who meets eligibility requirements. Republicans sought to limit federal spending on the program, however, by instituting a per capita cap so that Uncle Sam would instead offer a fixed amount of money for each beneficiary.
"We are pleased that this dangerous piece of legislation is not being considered on the House floor," said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc. "This bill showed a callous and dangerous disregard for the well-being of people with disabilities and those with complex medical needs."
If enacted as originally proposed, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Republican plan have led to $880 billion less in federal spending on Medicaid between 2017 and 2026.
Advocates warned that this type of funding change would have left every service provided by vulnerable to cuts, meaning that people with developmental disabilities could have lost home-and-community-based services, personal care, rehabilitative services, respite care and other benefits.
"This is absolutely a win for people with disabilities," said Julia Bascom. executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, after learning the bill had been pulled.
"There are fights left ahead- there are improvements that still need to be made, we haven't seen the last of attempts to cut Medicaid and that's to say nothing of other issues impacting the disability community such as preserving strong ADA protections- but this is a profound and decisive victory," Bascom said.
A Republican proposal to overhaul the nation's health care system and fundamentally alter Medicaid is off the table- at least for now- and that's good news for people with disabilities, advocates say.
Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives withdrew their bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, just before the measure was set to go to a vote Friday afternoon.
The move came as lawmakers acknowledged that the votes simply weren't there to pass the legislation.
"We came really close today, but we came up short," said House Speaker Paul Ryan. "We did not quite have the votes to replace the law. We're going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future."
The GOP bill called for sweeping changes to Medicaid that advocates said would seriously threaten home- and community-based services and other supports that people with developmental disabilities depend on.
Currently, Medicaid operates as an entitlement program with states receiving matching grants from the federal government to cover anyone who meets eligibility requirements. Republicans sought to limit federal spending on the program, however, by instituting a per capita cap so that Uncle Sam would instead offer a fixed amount of money for each beneficiary.
"We are pleased that this dangerous piece of legislation is not being considered on the House floor," said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc. "This bill showed a callous and dangerous disregard for the well-being of people with disabilities and those with complex medical needs."
If enacted as originally proposed, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Republican plan have led to $880 billion less in federal spending on Medicaid between 2017 and 2026.
Advocates warned that this type of funding change would have left every service provided by vulnerable to cuts, meaning that people with developmental disabilities could have lost home-and-community-based services, personal care, rehabilitative services, respite care and other benefits.
"This is absolutely a win for people with disabilities," said Julia Bascom. executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, after learning the bill had been pulled.
"There are fights left ahead- there are improvements that still need to be made, we haven't seen the last of attempts to cut Medicaid and that's to say nothing of other issues impacting the disability community such as preserving strong ADA protections- but this is a profound and decisive victory," Bascom said.
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER
Here's my current take on Philly sports...
PHILLIES
The roster will be set as early as today or tomorrow. Aaron Nola will not be sent down to the minors, but he should be. He's had a horrible spring. He is either still hurt, which means he should get Tommy John surgery ASAP, or he sucks, which is even worse. Nola was the number 7 pick in the draft several years ago. His game is control, as he doesn't have the stuff to blow hitters away. So far, Nola hasn't justified being that high of a pick. He's on track to be the # 4 or #5 pitcher in the rotation. If he is still struggling around Memorial Day it's time to seriously worry about his future.
Roman Quinn is still in camp. I have hopes he will go north with the team. He would be the Phils' best lead-off hitter, can steal a base late, or fill-in defensively. Going back to Lehigh Valley isn't totally bad; Quinn would play every day. Bring some excitement and bring Quinn up. Guys like Chris Coughlin and Daniel Nava aren't the future.
The 2017 Phillies will be a team striving to reach .500. They are biding their time, watching the prospects percolate at Lehigh Valley until they are ready late summer. The Phils will then try to trade vets like Hellickson, Bucholtz, Saunders and Kendrick for even more prospects. The kids will play out the season, and the real focus will be on 2018, as the core kids- Crawford, Williams, Hoskins, Cozens and others- come up to Philadlephia to stay..
At least the squad has options now in case of injuries or failure at the big league level. Aside form third base, every position now has depth and potential. That's good news for major leaguers like Hernandez, Galvis and Joseph, who play well to keep their jobs, as prospects push for playing time. There will be a logjam of talent in Lehigh Valley and Reading, which may make trades a necessity.
Sadly, Phillie fans- along with all Philly sports fans- have become so used to and accepting of mediocrity, average players become more valued than their worth. Take Obdubal Herrera, for example. He has the potential to hit over .300, contend for a batting title, and in general, become a perennial all-star in the league for years to come. And he may achieve all of that. But in reality, he has never been a real .300 hitter, let alone come close to a batting title. He's OK in center field, makes some stupid base-running blunders, and has dogged it at times. Still, the Phillies gave him a big extension on his contract.
Fans will see that guys like Herrera are a dime a dozen, once a real, bona fide hitter breaks the line-up, either in trade,free agency or promotion form the minors. Herrera is basically only holding down center field until either Mike Trout finally comes to town or 18-year-old first overall pick Mickey Moniak is promoted to Philly in a few years.
The Phils lost all 3 games last season in Cincinnati to open the season. Winning at least 2 out of 3 before facing the rival Nationals and Mets at home would get the team off to a good start, something rare with the Phillies. Wouldn't a 10-3 start bring some hope and excitement to a franchise starving for excitement and attention? At least make it interesting until the kids come up later in the summer.
Manager Pete Mckannin deserves a contract extension with what the front office has given him. Extend the manager and allow him to see what he can do with young, upcoming talent rather than the over-the-hill slop the Phillies have paraded out for the last few years under Mckannon.
EAGLES-
The owners meetings start today in Arizona, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is due to speak Tuesday night, the first time he has publicly spoken in over a year. Of course, he won't tell fans who the Birds will take in the draft. But it will be interesting to hear what his expectations are for this season and beyond..
The issue over the Eagles switching back to kelly green uniforms may be temporarily dead. But fans do care, and you would think the Eagles could make tons of money in merchandise is they made kelly green at least their alternate color in a few games. Will Lurie be asked about it, and how will he respond?
Beat writer Jeff McKlaine of the Philadelphia Daily News doesn't think the team will use it's first round pick on a running back. Wide receiver, maybe. Corner back or defensive end, more likely. His thinking is that the Eagles rarely value running back that high, plus with the position being so deep in the 2017 draft, the Birds could get a quality guy in the later rounds. Although I like the vision of an explosive, home run hitter like Delvin Cook teamed with Wentz, Jeffery and Smith, it makes more sense to build up the secondary with early picks. A young wide-out is also a must, especially since both Jeffery and Smith are on one-year deals.
If Mike Williams is available, the Eagles should grab him. But I wouldn't be surprised if they took speedy WR John Ross too. The Eagles would view him as another DeSean Jackson, and combined with the bigger receivers, would give the team an explosive set of receivers.
I'm still surprised more cuts haven't happened. Guys like Kendricks and Kelce should be gone. But maybe GM Howie Rossman is waiting to see if there is any draft day interest in trades.
Doug Pederson should get at least another year as head coach. If the team backslides after this year, with an easier schedule and free agent helps, Pederson's job should seriously be looked at.
FLYERS-
Despite the impressive 6-3 win at Pittsburgh over the weekend, let's face reality- the Flyers will not make the playoffs this year, which has to be a major disappointment. Coach Dave Hakstol shows little emotion and some of his moves have been questionable. The team doesn't seem to have any plan with their goaltenders. There is no #1 guy. And the Flyers traded away the best goalie in the league in Columbus Blue Jacket Sergie Bobroski. Why haven't the fans and media criticized the team more for that mis-judgement in talent evaluation?
As their aging vets play out the season, the Flyers have to seriously think about their future, the prospects ready to break into Philly, and who is really steering this ship after Ed Snider passed away.
In my opinon, Hakstol needs to go, replaced by a solid, more experienced NHL coach who would not only work well with the vets, but will groom the kids as well.
SIXERS-
The team needs to seriously re-evaluate their medical staff. Embiid is out for the year, his surgery delayed, which make effect next season; Simmond sis out all year from a broken foot, yet is seen before games dunking with the bad foot; Okafor continues to have knee pain, even a year after knee surgery. Forget about projections for the future, if the process is working or not, if the team is still tanking game, and the upcoming high draft picks. If their core young stars can't stay healthy, all is lost.
It's going to take a lot for me to trust Sixer management again. No matter what they say about the health of a player, can you really believe them? It looks like they will get at least one top 5 draft pick this June. They can;t screw that up again. Most of all, take someone healthy, who doesn't have a history of injuries.
Brett Brown deserves another year to reap the fruits of the long process. If the process fails, he will too, and the 76ers will need to start all over -again.
NCAA BASKETBALL-
Who could have ever foreseen the Final Four of Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina and Gonzaga? Certainly, Villanova and/or Duke were in most fan's brackets. North Carolina is the easy choice now to win the national championship, so I'm going to say Gonzaga wins it all.
PHILLIES
The roster will be set as early as today or tomorrow. Aaron Nola will not be sent down to the minors, but he should be. He's had a horrible spring. He is either still hurt, which means he should get Tommy John surgery ASAP, or he sucks, which is even worse. Nola was the number 7 pick in the draft several years ago. His game is control, as he doesn't have the stuff to blow hitters away. So far, Nola hasn't justified being that high of a pick. He's on track to be the # 4 or #5 pitcher in the rotation. If he is still struggling around Memorial Day it's time to seriously worry about his future.
Roman Quinn is still in camp. I have hopes he will go north with the team. He would be the Phils' best lead-off hitter, can steal a base late, or fill-in defensively. Going back to Lehigh Valley isn't totally bad; Quinn would play every day. Bring some excitement and bring Quinn up. Guys like Chris Coughlin and Daniel Nava aren't the future.
The 2017 Phillies will be a team striving to reach .500. They are biding their time, watching the prospects percolate at Lehigh Valley until they are ready late summer. The Phils will then try to trade vets like Hellickson, Bucholtz, Saunders and Kendrick for even more prospects. The kids will play out the season, and the real focus will be on 2018, as the core kids- Crawford, Williams, Hoskins, Cozens and others- come up to Philadlephia to stay..
At least the squad has options now in case of injuries or failure at the big league level. Aside form third base, every position now has depth and potential. That's good news for major leaguers like Hernandez, Galvis and Joseph, who play well to keep their jobs, as prospects push for playing time. There will be a logjam of talent in Lehigh Valley and Reading, which may make trades a necessity.
Sadly, Phillie fans- along with all Philly sports fans- have become so used to and accepting of mediocrity, average players become more valued than their worth. Take Obdubal Herrera, for example. He has the potential to hit over .300, contend for a batting title, and in general, become a perennial all-star in the league for years to come. And he may achieve all of that. But in reality, he has never been a real .300 hitter, let alone come close to a batting title. He's OK in center field, makes some stupid base-running blunders, and has dogged it at times. Still, the Phillies gave him a big extension on his contract.
Fans will see that guys like Herrera are a dime a dozen, once a real, bona fide hitter breaks the line-up, either in trade,free agency or promotion form the minors. Herrera is basically only holding down center field until either Mike Trout finally comes to town or 18-year-old first overall pick Mickey Moniak is promoted to Philly in a few years.
The Phils lost all 3 games last season in Cincinnati to open the season. Winning at least 2 out of 3 before facing the rival Nationals and Mets at home would get the team off to a good start, something rare with the Phillies. Wouldn't a 10-3 start bring some hope and excitement to a franchise starving for excitement and attention? At least make it interesting until the kids come up later in the summer.
Manager Pete Mckannin deserves a contract extension with what the front office has given him. Extend the manager and allow him to see what he can do with young, upcoming talent rather than the over-the-hill slop the Phillies have paraded out for the last few years under Mckannon.
EAGLES-
The owners meetings start today in Arizona, and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is due to speak Tuesday night, the first time he has publicly spoken in over a year. Of course, he won't tell fans who the Birds will take in the draft. But it will be interesting to hear what his expectations are for this season and beyond..
The issue over the Eagles switching back to kelly green uniforms may be temporarily dead. But fans do care, and you would think the Eagles could make tons of money in merchandise is they made kelly green at least their alternate color in a few games. Will Lurie be asked about it, and how will he respond?
Beat writer Jeff McKlaine of the Philadelphia Daily News doesn't think the team will use it's first round pick on a running back. Wide receiver, maybe. Corner back or defensive end, more likely. His thinking is that the Eagles rarely value running back that high, plus with the position being so deep in the 2017 draft, the Birds could get a quality guy in the later rounds. Although I like the vision of an explosive, home run hitter like Delvin Cook teamed with Wentz, Jeffery and Smith, it makes more sense to build up the secondary with early picks. A young wide-out is also a must, especially since both Jeffery and Smith are on one-year deals.
If Mike Williams is available, the Eagles should grab him. But I wouldn't be surprised if they took speedy WR John Ross too. The Eagles would view him as another DeSean Jackson, and combined with the bigger receivers, would give the team an explosive set of receivers.
I'm still surprised more cuts haven't happened. Guys like Kendricks and Kelce should be gone. But maybe GM Howie Rossman is waiting to see if there is any draft day interest in trades.
Doug Pederson should get at least another year as head coach. If the team backslides after this year, with an easier schedule and free agent helps, Pederson's job should seriously be looked at.
FLYERS-
Despite the impressive 6-3 win at Pittsburgh over the weekend, let's face reality- the Flyers will not make the playoffs this year, which has to be a major disappointment. Coach Dave Hakstol shows little emotion and some of his moves have been questionable. The team doesn't seem to have any plan with their goaltenders. There is no #1 guy. And the Flyers traded away the best goalie in the league in Columbus Blue Jacket Sergie Bobroski. Why haven't the fans and media criticized the team more for that mis-judgement in talent evaluation?
As their aging vets play out the season, the Flyers have to seriously think about their future, the prospects ready to break into Philly, and who is really steering this ship after Ed Snider passed away.
In my opinon, Hakstol needs to go, replaced by a solid, more experienced NHL coach who would not only work well with the vets, but will groom the kids as well.
SIXERS-
The team needs to seriously re-evaluate their medical staff. Embiid is out for the year, his surgery delayed, which make effect next season; Simmond sis out all year from a broken foot, yet is seen before games dunking with the bad foot; Okafor continues to have knee pain, even a year after knee surgery. Forget about projections for the future, if the process is working or not, if the team is still tanking game, and the upcoming high draft picks. If their core young stars can't stay healthy, all is lost.
It's going to take a lot for me to trust Sixer management again. No matter what they say about the health of a player, can you really believe them? It looks like they will get at least one top 5 draft pick this June. They can;t screw that up again. Most of all, take someone healthy, who doesn't have a history of injuries.
Brett Brown deserves another year to reap the fruits of the long process. If the process fails, he will too, and the 76ers will need to start all over -again.
NCAA BASKETBALL-
Who could have ever foreseen the Final Four of Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina and Gonzaga? Certainly, Villanova and/or Duke were in most fan's brackets. North Carolina is the easy choice now to win the national championship, so I'm going to say Gonzaga wins it all.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
IN THE NEWS- LOW CAREGIVER WAGES TAKE TOLL
The Wichita Eagle newspaper offers the following article..
Kay Stoltz says her son repeats the names of caregivers who have moved on to other jobs.
"Christi gone, Sarah gone, Jolinda gone<" Zachary Stoltz, 35, repeats.
Zach Stoltz has fragile X syndrome, resulting in intellectual disability, difficulties communicating and social problems. He needs 24-hour care. He remembers people who have left years ago, his mother says, people who had become his friends.
"And then he loses them and he'll never see them again," Stoltz says.
She can't be sure that every person who left did so because of low pay, but she's sure it can't help.
Caregivers like Zach's make an average of about $7 an hour, according to the Advocates in Communities Team of South Central Kansas, a group of organizations and individuals that advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Kansas hasn't increased its rates to providers of home- and community-based services since 2008.
Family members of people with disabilities say this leads to higher turnover rates for caregivers and a decrease in quality of life for their loved ones. Providers living off that pay say it's often a struggle to make ends meet.
As of July, nearly 9,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Kansas were eligible for home-and community-based services. Another 3,500 were on the waiting list, according to state records.
Kevin Fish, chairman of ACT and executive director of the Arc of Sedgwick County, said the tasks done by these community providers can include working on daily living skills for someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them use the bathroom, taking them grocery shopping or monitoring their diet.
"They're really responsible to this person's life," Fish said. 'When there's a constant turnover in individuals, they don't really get to know the person very well."
For the first time in years, a Kansas Senate bill has some saying they see a step forward. The bill would offer a 5 percent rate increase for providers of home-and community-based services. It received a committee hearing earlier this month.
At the same time, the proposed Republican health-care replacement bill in Congress has left families of people with disabilities and providers afraid that an increase in pay will be irrelevant if they lose funding for programs altogether.
Today, Zach Stoltz attends a day program for people with disabilities that has about one staff member for every eight clients. But his mother says it doesn't always work out that way. Often, one client needs individual attention for something like help with the restroom, decreasing the caregiver- to -client ratio with the others.
In Zach's first day program, which he started at age 22, the ratio was 1 to 2.
"This low ratio made it possible to work on building both life skills and job skills," Kay Stoltz wrote in testimony in support of the Kansas bill. "The clients planned their lunch menus for the week, went grocery shopping, prepared their lunches and cleaned up afterward. They did volunteer work in the community including collating a church newsletter and making River Festival buttons.
Later, Zach moved to a day program with a 1 to 4 ratio. There, they were out in the community every day, volunteering at the Humane Society and swimming at the YMCA. After six months, the program closed because of lack of funding.
In Zach's current program, there aren't enough staff members to take the clients into the community to do volunteer efforts or to teach life skills, Kat Stoltz said.
"Now they never go swimming," she wrote. "Zachary's activities in the community appear to be delivering Meals on Wheels once a week, occasionally bowling and eating out."
And staff turnover is its own story. When a new person arrives, it can take a long time for Zach to communicate with them. Zach also is attached to his routines, which a new caregiver doesn't always understand.
"I'm a really big believer that everyone can contribute to the community, but you have to have the right supports to do that," Kay Stoltz said.
And she knows the job isn't easy. The people who work with her son and others have to ensure the safety of the clients, sometimes help them bathe or take care of medications.
"I wouldn't do that for $8 an hour," she said.
But Christopher Fleet says he'd do the job for free.
That's not to say it would be easy. Fleet, a work trainer at Starkey, a disability service provider, leads a crew of eight clients with disabilities in work such as packaging, cutting material, shredding documents and putting together dental kits.
He makes about $9.50 an hour. Until recently, it was his third job. Noe it is his second.
"Yeah, we can make it, but if it was my only job, boy, it would be even tighter," Fleet said. "It would take a lot of attention and really making decisions, what are the essentials of life."
If he lost his other job, working as a pastor- not always a regular source of income, since his check comes after the church's bills are paid- he wonders what he would have to do. He and his wife, \who takes care of church business and repairs pianos, could do without satellite TV, he says. They could try to use internet at the library, he supposes. Cutting back on transportation would be difficult, since he often drives for his ministry.
Nonetheless, he loves his job at Starkey.
"I'm here for the people, " Fleet said. "Every day my attention is on my guys, my crew and some of the burdens they're going through. I told my boss,'I'd come here every day even if you didn't pay me.' She didn't believe me."
Kelsey Koch and Brindi Stables are other employees at Starkey. The two are job coaches, helping clients find work in the community and offering followup support. Stables also has marketing duties.
They make more money than Fleet- and more, they know, than many others at Starkey. They also know that at $11.10 an hour for Koch and $12 an hour for Stables, they couldn't get by without the incomes of their significant others.
"I'm fortunate enough to have a husband that works at Spirit, so I have that as my backup plan, but I've told my supervisor time and time again, if something were to happen to my husband or we were to separate, it would be me and my 3-year-old son," Stables said. "There would be no way I could continue to work here."
Stables, Koch and Fish said they see a lot of turnover. Not all of it is because of pay, they say, but they think some people have to leave to find better-paying work.
The hourly living wage in Sedgwick County for one adult is $9.40, according to a calculator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For one adult and one child, it is $21.06.
The average made by most community providers- $8 an hour- isn't far off from the hourly pay for a McDonald's employee, and it's less than average hourly pay for a Wal-Mart employee in Kansas.
Kay Stoltz says her son repeats the names of caregivers who have moved on to other jobs.
"Christi gone, Sarah gone, Jolinda gone<" Zachary Stoltz, 35, repeats.
Zach Stoltz has fragile X syndrome, resulting in intellectual disability, difficulties communicating and social problems. He needs 24-hour care. He remembers people who have left years ago, his mother says, people who had become his friends.
"And then he loses them and he'll never see them again," Stoltz says.
She can't be sure that every person who left did so because of low pay, but she's sure it can't help.
Caregivers like Zach's make an average of about $7 an hour, according to the Advocates in Communities Team of South Central Kansas, a group of organizations and individuals that advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Kansas hasn't increased its rates to providers of home- and community-based services since 2008.
Family members of people with disabilities say this leads to higher turnover rates for caregivers and a decrease in quality of life for their loved ones. Providers living off that pay say it's often a struggle to make ends meet.
As of July, nearly 9,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Kansas were eligible for home-and community-based services. Another 3,500 were on the waiting list, according to state records.
Kevin Fish, chairman of ACT and executive director of the Arc of Sedgwick County, said the tasks done by these community providers can include working on daily living skills for someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them use the bathroom, taking them grocery shopping or monitoring their diet.
"They're really responsible to this person's life," Fish said. 'When there's a constant turnover in individuals, they don't really get to know the person very well."
For the first time in years, a Kansas Senate bill has some saying they see a step forward. The bill would offer a 5 percent rate increase for providers of home-and community-based services. It received a committee hearing earlier this month.
At the same time, the proposed Republican health-care replacement bill in Congress has left families of people with disabilities and providers afraid that an increase in pay will be irrelevant if they lose funding for programs altogether.
Today, Zach Stoltz attends a day program for people with disabilities that has about one staff member for every eight clients. But his mother says it doesn't always work out that way. Often, one client needs individual attention for something like help with the restroom, decreasing the caregiver- to -client ratio with the others.
In Zach's first day program, which he started at age 22, the ratio was 1 to 2.
"This low ratio made it possible to work on building both life skills and job skills," Kay Stoltz wrote in testimony in support of the Kansas bill. "The clients planned their lunch menus for the week, went grocery shopping, prepared their lunches and cleaned up afterward. They did volunteer work in the community including collating a church newsletter and making River Festival buttons.
Later, Zach moved to a day program with a 1 to 4 ratio. There, they were out in the community every day, volunteering at the Humane Society and swimming at the YMCA. After six months, the program closed because of lack of funding.
In Zach's current program, there aren't enough staff members to take the clients into the community to do volunteer efforts or to teach life skills, Kat Stoltz said.
"Now they never go swimming," she wrote. "Zachary's activities in the community appear to be delivering Meals on Wheels once a week, occasionally bowling and eating out."
And staff turnover is its own story. When a new person arrives, it can take a long time for Zach to communicate with them. Zach also is attached to his routines, which a new caregiver doesn't always understand.
"I'm a really big believer that everyone can contribute to the community, but you have to have the right supports to do that," Kay Stoltz said.
And she knows the job isn't easy. The people who work with her son and others have to ensure the safety of the clients, sometimes help them bathe or take care of medications.
"I wouldn't do that for $8 an hour," she said.
But Christopher Fleet says he'd do the job for free.
That's not to say it would be easy. Fleet, a work trainer at Starkey, a disability service provider, leads a crew of eight clients with disabilities in work such as packaging, cutting material, shredding documents and putting together dental kits.
He makes about $9.50 an hour. Until recently, it was his third job. Noe it is his second.
"Yeah, we can make it, but if it was my only job, boy, it would be even tighter," Fleet said. "It would take a lot of attention and really making decisions, what are the essentials of life."
If he lost his other job, working as a pastor- not always a regular source of income, since his check comes after the church's bills are paid- he wonders what he would have to do. He and his wife, \who takes care of church business and repairs pianos, could do without satellite TV, he says. They could try to use internet at the library, he supposes. Cutting back on transportation would be difficult, since he often drives for his ministry.
Nonetheless, he loves his job at Starkey.
"I'm here for the people, " Fleet said. "Every day my attention is on my guys, my crew and some of the burdens they're going through. I told my boss,'I'd come here every day even if you didn't pay me.' She didn't believe me."
Kelsey Koch and Brindi Stables are other employees at Starkey. The two are job coaches, helping clients find work in the community and offering followup support. Stables also has marketing duties.
They make more money than Fleet- and more, they know, than many others at Starkey. They also know that at $11.10 an hour for Koch and $12 an hour for Stables, they couldn't get by without the incomes of their significant others.
"I'm fortunate enough to have a husband that works at Spirit, so I have that as my backup plan, but I've told my supervisor time and time again, if something were to happen to my husband or we were to separate, it would be me and my 3-year-old son," Stables said. "There would be no way I could continue to work here."
Stables, Koch and Fish said they see a lot of turnover. Not all of it is because of pay, they say, but they think some people have to leave to find better-paying work.
The hourly living wage in Sedgwick County for one adult is $9.40, according to a calculator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For one adult and one child, it is $21.06.
The average made by most community providers- $8 an hour- isn't far off from the hourly pay for a McDonald's employee, and it's less than average hourly pay for a Wal-Mart employee in Kansas.
Friday, March 24, 2017
IN THE NEWS- HIGH COURT BACKS MORE ROBUST STANDARD FOR FAPE
From Disability Scoop..
In a unanimous ruling with major implications for special education, the U.S. Supreme Court said that public schools must provide students with disabilities more than a minimal benefit.
The decision issued Wednesday comes in a case known as Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, which pitted the parents of a Colorado boy with autism against their school district.
After Endrew F. made little progress attending public school, his parents placed him at a private school and sought reimbursement. However, a lower court rejected their claim saying that reimbursement was unwarranted since the boy received "some" educational benefit.
In reversing that ruling this week, the Supreme Court affirmed a higher standard for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandate that students with disabilities be provided a free appropriate public education.
"When all is said and done, a student offered an educational program providing 'merely more than de minimis' progress from year to year can hardly be said to have been offered an education at all," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion."The IDEA demands more."
FAPE typically means offering "a level of instruction reasonably calculated to permit advancement through the general curriculum," the court indicated.
However, for students who are not fully integrated in general education classrooms, Roberts wrote that individualized education programs do not need to aim for grade-level advancement, but "must be appropriately ambitious in light of (a student's) circumstances, just as advancement from grade to grade is appropriately ambitious for most children in the regular classroom."
"The goals may differ, but every child should have the chance to meet challenging objectives," reads the opinion.
The ruling does not go as far as the family of Endrew F. hoped. They argued that FAPE should ensure children with disabilities an education that allows them opportunities that are "substantially equal" to that of typically-developing kids. But the court determined that such a high bar would be "entirely unworkable."
Nonetheless, disability advocates hailed the ruling as a victory.
"We expect this unanimous decision to be trans-formative in the lives of student with disabilities," said Denise Marshall, executive director of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. "Today the (Supreme Court) affirmed what we know to be the promise of the IDEA."
The ruling comes in the midst of Senate hearings to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to a seat on the Supreme Court. Gorsuch had previously ruled on a similar case and had supported the lower standard that was rejected by the high court's ruling.
In a unanimous ruling with major implications for special education, the U.S. Supreme Court said that public schools must provide students with disabilities more than a minimal benefit.
The decision issued Wednesday comes in a case known as Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, which pitted the parents of a Colorado boy with autism against their school district.
After Endrew F. made little progress attending public school, his parents placed him at a private school and sought reimbursement. However, a lower court rejected their claim saying that reimbursement was unwarranted since the boy received "some" educational benefit.
In reversing that ruling this week, the Supreme Court affirmed a higher standard for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandate that students with disabilities be provided a free appropriate public education.
"When all is said and done, a student offered an educational program providing 'merely more than de minimis' progress from year to year can hardly be said to have been offered an education at all," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion."The IDEA demands more."
FAPE typically means offering "a level of instruction reasonably calculated to permit advancement through the general curriculum," the court indicated.
However, for students who are not fully integrated in general education classrooms, Roberts wrote that individualized education programs do not need to aim for grade-level advancement, but "must be appropriately ambitious in light of (a student's) circumstances, just as advancement from grade to grade is appropriately ambitious for most children in the regular classroom."
"The goals may differ, but every child should have the chance to meet challenging objectives," reads the opinion.
The ruling does not go as far as the family of Endrew F. hoped. They argued that FAPE should ensure children with disabilities an education that allows them opportunities that are "substantially equal" to that of typically-developing kids. But the court determined that such a high bar would be "entirely unworkable."
Nonetheless, disability advocates hailed the ruling as a victory.
"We expect this unanimous decision to be trans-formative in the lives of student with disabilities," said Denise Marshall, executive director of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. "Today the (Supreme Court) affirmed what we know to be the promise of the IDEA."
The ruling comes in the midst of Senate hearings to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to a seat on the Supreme Court. Gorsuch had previously ruled on a similar case and had supported the lower standard that was rejected by the high court's ruling.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
IN THE NEWS- NIKE IMPROVES SHOE ACCESSIBILITY
Another article from Disability Scoop..
Nike is taking steps toward increased accessibility with a new show designed to make it even easier for people with disabilities to slip their feet in and out.
The athletic-wear giant said this week that it's introducing a new iteration of its FlyEase lineup, a collection of sneakers that include special accessibility features.
Nike first introduced FlyEase in 2015 after hearing from a teenager with cerebral palsy who sought a shoe he could put on independently. The original FlyEase design relied on a wrap-around zipper to fasten the shoe and included a larger opening at the back to make it simpler to slide feet in and out.
"One of the key learnings we've had in crafting accessible footwear is the importance of easy entry and exit of the shoe, not just simplifying its fastening system," said Tobie Hatfield, senior director of athlete innovation at Nike. "Eliminating the intricate hand movement of lace tying is important, but if the athlete cannot get their foot into the shoe, lacing becomes a moot point."
The new version- called the LeBron Soldier 10 FlyEase- opens from the heal to the midpoint and uses a flatter zipper and Velcro straps to secure the shoe around the foot.
"It looks just like the traditional Soldier 10, but with a far more generous opening for the foot," Hatfield said. "Of all the shoes we've ever made, this may be the easiest one to get into."
The LeBron Soldier 10 FlyEase is available online in both kids and adult sizes.
Nike is taking steps toward increased accessibility with a new show designed to make it even easier for people with disabilities to slip their feet in and out.
The athletic-wear giant said this week that it's introducing a new iteration of its FlyEase lineup, a collection of sneakers that include special accessibility features.
Nike first introduced FlyEase in 2015 after hearing from a teenager with cerebral palsy who sought a shoe he could put on independently. The original FlyEase design relied on a wrap-around zipper to fasten the shoe and included a larger opening at the back to make it simpler to slide feet in and out.
"One of the key learnings we've had in crafting accessible footwear is the importance of easy entry and exit of the shoe, not just simplifying its fastening system," said Tobie Hatfield, senior director of athlete innovation at Nike. "Eliminating the intricate hand movement of lace tying is important, but if the athlete cannot get their foot into the shoe, lacing becomes a moot point."
The new version- called the LeBron Soldier 10 FlyEase- opens from the heal to the midpoint and uses a flatter zipper and Velcro straps to secure the shoe around the foot.
"It looks just like the traditional Soldier 10, but with a far more generous opening for the foot," Hatfield said. "Of all the shoes we've ever made, this may be the easiest one to get into."
The LeBron Soldier 10 FlyEase is available online in both kids and adult sizes.
IN THE NEWS- CELEBRITIES TAKE AIM AT "SPECIAL NEEDS"
From Disability Scoop..
With a new short film, a handful of famous faces are using offbeat humor to question whether the need sof people with Down syndrome truly are "special."
Dubbed "Not Special Needs," the two-minute clip stars "Glee" actress Lauren Potter and features actor John McGinley of "Scrubs."
"People with Down syndrome have special needs. Special needs? Really? Potter says in the video.
The actress, who has the chromosomal disorder, then goes on to suggest several hypothetical needs that might make people with Down syndrome special. For example, she says it would be special if they needed to eat dinosaur eggs, wear a suit if armor or be massaged by a cat.
"What we really need is education, jobs and opportunities, friends and some love, just like everybody else," Potter says. "Are these special needs?"
Produced by the advertising agency Publicis New York for the Italian Down syndrome group CoorDown, the film is being presented Tuesday at the World Down Syndrome Day Conference at the United Nations in New York.
"The reality is people with Down syndrome do not have different or special needs, although they may sometimes meet those needs in different ways, they have the same needs as all of us," said Andy Bird, chief creative officer at Publicis New York. "We hope our film maybe goes a little way to changing how people view those with Down syndrome."
With a new short film, a handful of famous faces are using offbeat humor to question whether the need sof people with Down syndrome truly are "special."
Dubbed "Not Special Needs," the two-minute clip stars "Glee" actress Lauren Potter and features actor John McGinley of "Scrubs."
"People with Down syndrome have special needs. Special needs? Really? Potter says in the video.
The actress, who has the chromosomal disorder, then goes on to suggest several hypothetical needs that might make people with Down syndrome special. For example, she says it would be special if they needed to eat dinosaur eggs, wear a suit if armor or be massaged by a cat.
"What we really need is education, jobs and opportunities, friends and some love, just like everybody else," Potter says. "Are these special needs?"
Produced by the advertising agency Publicis New York for the Italian Down syndrome group CoorDown, the film is being presented Tuesday at the World Down Syndrome Day Conference at the United Nations in New York.
"The reality is people with Down syndrome do not have different or special needs, although they may sometimes meet those needs in different ways, they have the same needs as all of us," said Andy Bird, chief creative officer at Publicis New York. "We hope our film maybe goes a little way to changing how people view those with Down syndrome."
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
PHILLIES PHODDER
About the Phillies...
ROMAN QUINN-
It probably won't happen, but speedy outfielder Roman Quinn should come north with the team. The plan is to send him back to Lehigh Valley, where he can play everyday, then bring him up to Philadelphia in the summer, especially after trading away vets Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders.
But Quinn is 23 and looks ready NOW. I get why the team got Kendricks and Saunders, two professional bats in a line=up full of younger players. But Quinn would play a lot in Philly if he was brought up for Opening Day. Other than spelling an outfielder- Quinn can play all 3 outfield positions, but is really a true center fielder- Roman is a good defensive replacement in late innings and can also steal a base when needed. He would instantly become the fastest guy on the squad. He's a switch-hitter, so no worries about platooning. He would also be an ideal lead off hitter when he does start.
Why have older guys like Daniel Nova and Chris Coughlin vie for the extra outfield spot (Aaron Altherr had a solid spring and will be the fourth outfielder). Nova and Coughlin aren't the future- Quim is. Why not see if he can play, and give the fans some excitement, as Quinn could easily be one of the most dynamic players on the 2017 Phillies.
STARTING ROTATION-
Again, it may not happen, but I would start P Aaron Nola in triple A Lehigh Valley. He claims to be healthy, and granted, it's only spring training, but Nola has got to prove to me that he is healthy and pitches well. So far, he has been inconsistent in Florida. His bread and butter is his control, and that's been spotty this spring so far.
Instead, let Jake Thompson anchor the fifth slot in the rotation. He dominated triple A last year. What else does he have to prove in Lehigh Valley? He would get a regular turn in Philly every 5 days, yet not be over-used.
The res tof the rotation looks set. Jeremy Hellickson didn't sound so enthusiastic about again being named Opening Day starter. He and Clay Bucholtz will hopefully have good springs and then be attractive trade bait in late July. Vince Velaquez again looks overpowering at times, then has control problems. He also throws too many pitches and looks tired around the 5th or 6th inning. His future may be in the back of the bullpen as the Phillies' future closer.
Jared Eichoff is the most consistent starter and should have a big year. He could be the ace of the staff, until a true ace is found.
Down on the farm, pitchers like Zach Efflin, Mark Appel and Ricardo Pinto await their turn to shine. The Phils have good depth now, in case a hurler at Philly does get hurt, something the organization lacked for many years.
BENCH-
It looks like Brock Stassi will make the team, and it is well deserved. Stassi is an excellent first baseman, and can spell 1B Tommy Joseph when a tough righty is on the opposing mound. Stassi can also play the outfield, a bonus. Andrew Knapp will most likely secure the back-up catchers slot behind Cameron Rupp. Both are holding the position until the catcher of the future, Jorge Alfaro, is ready, perhaps as soon as this summer. Knapp is a switch-hitter and can also play first.
The Phillies have a lot of flexibility in their line-up and on their bench, especially with Andres Blanco returning. The bench should be much improved over the past few seasons.
BULLPEN-
I would name Hector Neris the closer form the start and see how he does. Jemere Gomez did well as the closer last year, until he ran out of gas in late summer. But Gomez is better suited to be the set-up guy, as was his role with the Pihllies before he was called into duty as the closer, mainly because no one else could do the job. Neris has a nasty split-finger fastball, a strikeout pitch would is needed as a closer. Gomez has more gorundball-sinker stuff, and pitches to contact, great for double plays, not so great for a badly-needed strikeout.
The rest of the bullpen will work itself out in the weeks ahead until Opening Day. My choice would be to have Yoli Rodriguez be the left-handed short man, and Adam Morgan as the long guy, also a lefty.
Finally, hopefully the front office signs Manager Pete Mackanin to an extension before the season starts. it would remove the lame duck status currently saddling the skipper and lets the team know, especially the young kids, who will be leading them, not only this summer, but for summers to come.
ROMAN QUINN-
It probably won't happen, but speedy outfielder Roman Quinn should come north with the team. The plan is to send him back to Lehigh Valley, where he can play everyday, then bring him up to Philadelphia in the summer, especially after trading away vets Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders.
But Quinn is 23 and looks ready NOW. I get why the team got Kendricks and Saunders, two professional bats in a line=up full of younger players. But Quinn would play a lot in Philly if he was brought up for Opening Day. Other than spelling an outfielder- Quinn can play all 3 outfield positions, but is really a true center fielder- Roman is a good defensive replacement in late innings and can also steal a base when needed. He would instantly become the fastest guy on the squad. He's a switch-hitter, so no worries about platooning. He would also be an ideal lead off hitter when he does start.
Why have older guys like Daniel Nova and Chris Coughlin vie for the extra outfield spot (Aaron Altherr had a solid spring and will be the fourth outfielder). Nova and Coughlin aren't the future- Quim is. Why not see if he can play, and give the fans some excitement, as Quinn could easily be one of the most dynamic players on the 2017 Phillies.
STARTING ROTATION-
Again, it may not happen, but I would start P Aaron Nola in triple A Lehigh Valley. He claims to be healthy, and granted, it's only spring training, but Nola has got to prove to me that he is healthy and pitches well. So far, he has been inconsistent in Florida. His bread and butter is his control, and that's been spotty this spring so far.
Instead, let Jake Thompson anchor the fifth slot in the rotation. He dominated triple A last year. What else does he have to prove in Lehigh Valley? He would get a regular turn in Philly every 5 days, yet not be over-used.
The res tof the rotation looks set. Jeremy Hellickson didn't sound so enthusiastic about again being named Opening Day starter. He and Clay Bucholtz will hopefully have good springs and then be attractive trade bait in late July. Vince Velaquez again looks overpowering at times, then has control problems. He also throws too many pitches and looks tired around the 5th or 6th inning. His future may be in the back of the bullpen as the Phillies' future closer.
Jared Eichoff is the most consistent starter and should have a big year. He could be the ace of the staff, until a true ace is found.
Down on the farm, pitchers like Zach Efflin, Mark Appel and Ricardo Pinto await their turn to shine. The Phils have good depth now, in case a hurler at Philly does get hurt, something the organization lacked for many years.
BENCH-
It looks like Brock Stassi will make the team, and it is well deserved. Stassi is an excellent first baseman, and can spell 1B Tommy Joseph when a tough righty is on the opposing mound. Stassi can also play the outfield, a bonus. Andrew Knapp will most likely secure the back-up catchers slot behind Cameron Rupp. Both are holding the position until the catcher of the future, Jorge Alfaro, is ready, perhaps as soon as this summer. Knapp is a switch-hitter and can also play first.
The Phillies have a lot of flexibility in their line-up and on their bench, especially with Andres Blanco returning. The bench should be much improved over the past few seasons.
BULLPEN-
I would name Hector Neris the closer form the start and see how he does. Jemere Gomez did well as the closer last year, until he ran out of gas in late summer. But Gomez is better suited to be the set-up guy, as was his role with the Pihllies before he was called into duty as the closer, mainly because no one else could do the job. Neris has a nasty split-finger fastball, a strikeout pitch would is needed as a closer. Gomez has more gorundball-sinker stuff, and pitches to contact, great for double plays, not so great for a badly-needed strikeout.
The rest of the bullpen will work itself out in the weeks ahead until Opening Day. My choice would be to have Yoli Rodriguez be the left-handed short man, and Adam Morgan as the long guy, also a lefty.
Finally, hopefully the front office signs Manager Pete Mackanin to an extension before the season starts. it would remove the lame duck status currently saddling the skipper and lets the team know, especially the young kids, who will be leading them, not only this summer, but for summers to come.
IN THE NEWS-SUPREME COURT NOMINEE"S RULINGS ON ADA, IDEA HAVE ADVOCATES WORRIED
A timely topic from the Disability Scoop website..
As the U.S. Senate begins confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, concerns are being raised over his judicial record on cases affecting those with disabilities.
Neil Gorsuch, who Trump has tapped to succeed Antonin Scalia on the nation's high court, will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.
Currently a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver, Gorsuch has ruled in several cases touching on the rights of people with disabilities, a judicial record that many advocacy groups say is worrisome.
"Based on our review of Judge Gorsuch's record, we have serious reservations about his commitment to adequately and fairly protect the rights of all Americans, including people with disabilities," reads a letter to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee signed by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the National Council on Independent Living and more than two dozen other advocacy groups.
In a review of Goesuch's record, the Bazelon Center found that he "almost always" voted in favor of school districts over those with disabilities in cases brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other statutes.
Ruling in a case known as Thompson R 2-J School District v. Luke P., Gorsuch found that the school district had met its obligation under IDEA to provide a free appropriate public education since the student in question made some progress toward goals, even if the gains were minimal.
The issue of whether IDEA requires "some" progress or "significant" progress is one that courts have differed on and the question is now before the Supreme Court in a separate case with a ruling expected later this year.
Meanwhile, in another case, Gorsuch ruled that the mother of a student with a disability could not pursue remedies under the ADA because she has previously settled an administrative complaint brought under IDEA.
Advocates also cited cases related to employment accommodations, restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities, discrimination claims and other circumstances where they say Gorsuch took a narrow view of civil rights protections.
"Judge Gorsuch has expressed hostility toward private civil rights litigation,calling such lawsuits ' bad for the country,'" reads the advocates' correspondence to Sen Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "His decisions interpreting federal disability rights statutes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reflect this enmity as well as his misapprehension of these laws and their policy goals."
Beyond the disability advocacy groups that signed the recent letter, over 100 civil and human rights organizations sent a separate correspondence last month outlining opposition to Gorsuch's confirmation on similar grounds.
In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association have also expressed concern about Gorsuch's record on disability rights issues, particularly in regard to cases involving students with disabilities.
It is incomprehensible that Judge Gorusch has gone out of his way to impose extra legal barriers for students with disabilities rather than helping them to overcome obstacles," said Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the NEA. "In his court decisions, Judge Gorsuch endorsed the lowest of expectations for students with disabilities, which provided our highest-needs students with the bare minimum educational benefit. We should all be concerned by this troubling trend in Judge Gorsuch's record."
Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has indicated that Gorsuch's confirmation hearing will start Monday and take three to four days. He called the nominee a "mainstream judge" who is "well-qualified and respected."
As the U.S. Senate begins confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, concerns are being raised over his judicial record on cases affecting those with disabilities.
Neil Gorsuch, who Trump has tapped to succeed Antonin Scalia on the nation's high court, will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.
Currently a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver, Gorsuch has ruled in several cases touching on the rights of people with disabilities, a judicial record that many advocacy groups say is worrisome.
"Based on our review of Judge Gorsuch's record, we have serious reservations about his commitment to adequately and fairly protect the rights of all Americans, including people with disabilities," reads a letter to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee signed by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the National Council on Independent Living and more than two dozen other advocacy groups.
In a review of Goesuch's record, the Bazelon Center found that he "almost always" voted in favor of school districts over those with disabilities in cases brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other statutes.
Ruling in a case known as Thompson R 2-J School District v. Luke P., Gorsuch found that the school district had met its obligation under IDEA to provide a free appropriate public education since the student in question made some progress toward goals, even if the gains were minimal.
The issue of whether IDEA requires "some" progress or "significant" progress is one that courts have differed on and the question is now before the Supreme Court in a separate case with a ruling expected later this year.
Meanwhile, in another case, Gorsuch ruled that the mother of a student with a disability could not pursue remedies under the ADA because she has previously settled an administrative complaint brought under IDEA.
Advocates also cited cases related to employment accommodations, restraint and seclusion of students with disabilities, discrimination claims and other circumstances where they say Gorsuch took a narrow view of civil rights protections.
"Judge Gorsuch has expressed hostility toward private civil rights litigation,calling such lawsuits ' bad for the country,'" reads the advocates' correspondence to Sen Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "His decisions interpreting federal disability rights statutes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reflect this enmity as well as his misapprehension of these laws and their policy goals."
Beyond the disability advocacy groups that signed the recent letter, over 100 civil and human rights organizations sent a separate correspondence last month outlining opposition to Gorsuch's confirmation on similar grounds.
In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association have also expressed concern about Gorsuch's record on disability rights issues, particularly in regard to cases involving students with disabilities.
It is incomprehensible that Judge Gorusch has gone out of his way to impose extra legal barriers for students with disabilities rather than helping them to overcome obstacles," said Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president of the NEA. "In his court decisions, Judge Gorsuch endorsed the lowest of expectations for students with disabilities, which provided our highest-needs students with the bare minimum educational benefit. We should all be concerned by this troubling trend in Judge Gorsuch's record."
Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has indicated that Gorsuch's confirmation hearing will start Monday and take three to four days. He called the nominee a "mainstream judge" who is "well-qualified and respected."
Monday, March 20, 2017
BASEBALL QUIZ
Another Baseball quiz..
1. Which Hall of Famer caught all 22 innings of an extra-inning game?
A- Johnny Bench
B- Joe Torre
C- Yogi Berra
D- Bill Dickey
2. Which of the following players hit 400 home runs as Yankees?
A- Reggie Jackson
B- Joe DiMaggio
C- Babe Ruth
D- Mickey Mantle
E- Lou Gehrig
3. True or false: No hall of Famers have been born on New Year's day.
4. Name the last player to have 12 hits in a World Series for the losing team.
A- Bernie Williams
B- Marquis Grissom
C- Sandy Alomar Jr.
D- Matt Williams
5. Who was the last pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout in a World Series game?
A- jack Morris
B- Curt Schilling
C- Madison Bumgarner
D- Josh Beckett
6. Match the players with the principle players they were traded for.
1- Lou Brock A- Roberto Kelly
2- Paul O'Neill B- Milt Pappas
3- Frank Robinson C- Jim Fregosi
4- Nolan Ryan D- Ernie Broglio
7. Which teams were the first to have an MVP and another player finish in the top five in the same year?
A- Giants
B- A's
C- Red Sox
D- Dodgers
8. Which manager led four different teams to the postseason?
A- Joe Cronin
B- Billy Martin
C- Leo Durocher
D- Joe Torre
9. Match the players with their first-name initials
1- J.C. A- Surhoff
2- C.C. B- Martin
3- J.R. C- Sabathia
4- B.J. D- Richard
10. True or false: There is only one National League third baseman to have 500 homers
ANSWERS
1. C
2. C, D, and E
3 False. There are two. Tim Keefe and Hank greenberg
4 . B (1996 World series)
5. C Game 5 vs, Kansas City in 2014 World Series
6. 1-D; 2-A; 3-B; 4-C
7. A and C
8. B
9. 1-B; 2-C; 3-D; 4-A
`0. False. Mike Scmidt (548 HRs) and Eddie Mathews (512 HRs)
1. Which Hall of Famer caught all 22 innings of an extra-inning game?
A- Johnny Bench
B- Joe Torre
C- Yogi Berra
D- Bill Dickey
2. Which of the following players hit 400 home runs as Yankees?
A- Reggie Jackson
B- Joe DiMaggio
C- Babe Ruth
D- Mickey Mantle
E- Lou Gehrig
3. True or false: No hall of Famers have been born on New Year's day.
4. Name the last player to have 12 hits in a World Series for the losing team.
A- Bernie Williams
B- Marquis Grissom
C- Sandy Alomar Jr.
D- Matt Williams
5. Who was the last pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout in a World Series game?
A- jack Morris
B- Curt Schilling
C- Madison Bumgarner
D- Josh Beckett
6. Match the players with the principle players they were traded for.
1- Lou Brock A- Roberto Kelly
2- Paul O'Neill B- Milt Pappas
3- Frank Robinson C- Jim Fregosi
4- Nolan Ryan D- Ernie Broglio
7. Which teams were the first to have an MVP and another player finish in the top five in the same year?
A- Giants
B- A's
C- Red Sox
D- Dodgers
8. Which manager led four different teams to the postseason?
A- Joe Cronin
B- Billy Martin
C- Leo Durocher
D- Joe Torre
9. Match the players with their first-name initials
1- J.C. A- Surhoff
2- C.C. B- Martin
3- J.R. C- Sabathia
4- B.J. D- Richard
10. True or false: There is only one National League third baseman to have 500 homers
ANSWERS
1. C
2. C, D, and E
3 False. There are two. Tim Keefe and Hank greenberg
4 . B (1996 World series)
5. C Game 5 vs, Kansas City in 2014 World Series
6. 1-D; 2-A; 3-B; 4-C
7. A and C
8. B
9. 1-B; 2-C; 3-D; 4-A
`0. False. Mike Scmidt (548 HRs) and Eddie Mathews (512 HRs)
IN THE NEWS- "SESAME STREET" BRINGING MUPPET WITH AUTISM TO TV
From the Los Angeles Times..
She's the wide-eyed little Muppet with a big smile who has made it to "Sesame Street."
Her name is Julia and she has autism.
Julia was first introduced in 2015, playing alongside Elmo and Abby Cadabby, as part of an online-only Digital Storybook story called Sesame Street and Autism: See the Amazing in All Children." Come April, kiddie viewers will be seeing more of Julia when she makes her transition to the live-action fold of the long-running children's show, as revealed in a segment Sunday on "60 Minutes."
Julia will make her debut on "Sesame Street", whose first-run episodes are now shown on HBO, with a little help from her ol' friends Elmo and Abby, who will introduce Julia to Big Bird. At first, Julia will be reluctant to shake the big yellow bird's hand.
"60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl spoke to Big Bird and Elmo ( hey, who better to talk to than the Muppets themselves?) about helping adjust to how Julia reacts to situations.
"We had to explain to Big Bird that Julia likes Big Bird," Elmo said. "It's just that Julia has autism. So sometimes it takes her a little longer to do things."
The episode ends with the four Muppets learning to get along and eventually playing tag.
"It was a very easy way to show that with a very slight accommodation they can meet her where she is," said longtime "Sesame Street" writer Christine Ferraro.
The creative team behind "Sesame Street's" newest addition worked with autism organizations to decide which characteristics Julia should have and how best to normalize autism for all children. Puppet designer Rollie Krewson told Stahl about the various details that went into creating the look of Julia, including a set of arms that can flap uncontrollably when Julia's overwhelmed.
The team was also mindful that the character of Julia was not a "one size fits all."
"It's tricky, because autism is not one thing, because it is different for every single person who has autism," said Ferraro. "Threr is an expression that goes, 'If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.'"
Ferraro added: "I would love her to be not Julia, the kid on 'Sesame Street' who has autism. I would like her to be just Julia."
But maybe Julia said it best when Stahl asked if she was enjoying her new friends.
"Fun, fun,fun, fun, fun, fun, fun," she replied.
She's the wide-eyed little Muppet with a big smile who has made it to "Sesame Street."
Her name is Julia and she has autism.
Julia was first introduced in 2015, playing alongside Elmo and Abby Cadabby, as part of an online-only Digital Storybook story called Sesame Street and Autism: See the Amazing in All Children." Come April, kiddie viewers will be seeing more of Julia when she makes her transition to the live-action fold of the long-running children's show, as revealed in a segment Sunday on "60 Minutes."
Julia will make her debut on "Sesame Street", whose first-run episodes are now shown on HBO, with a little help from her ol' friends Elmo and Abby, who will introduce Julia to Big Bird. At first, Julia will be reluctant to shake the big yellow bird's hand.
"60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl spoke to Big Bird and Elmo ( hey, who better to talk to than the Muppets themselves?) about helping adjust to how Julia reacts to situations.
"We had to explain to Big Bird that Julia likes Big Bird," Elmo said. "It's just that Julia has autism. So sometimes it takes her a little longer to do things."
The episode ends with the four Muppets learning to get along and eventually playing tag.
"It was a very easy way to show that with a very slight accommodation they can meet her where she is," said longtime "Sesame Street" writer Christine Ferraro.
The creative team behind "Sesame Street's" newest addition worked with autism organizations to decide which characteristics Julia should have and how best to normalize autism for all children. Puppet designer Rollie Krewson told Stahl about the various details that went into creating the look of Julia, including a set of arms that can flap uncontrollably when Julia's overwhelmed.
The team was also mindful that the character of Julia was not a "one size fits all."
"It's tricky, because autism is not one thing, because it is different for every single person who has autism," said Ferraro. "Threr is an expression that goes, 'If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism.'"
Ferraro added: "I would love her to be not Julia, the kid on 'Sesame Street' who has autism. I would like her to be just Julia."
But maybe Julia said it best when Stahl asked if she was enjoying her new friends.
"Fun, fun,fun, fun, fun, fun, fun," she replied.
IN THE NEWS- REMOTE MONITORING REPLACING SOME DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF
From the Columbus Dispatch..
Technology helps Lori Bolton feel safe at home when no one else is around.
Bolton, 41, has developmental disabilities and health issues that in the past required around-the-clock staff help from the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. but having people in her home much of the time was uncomfortable for Bolton and expensive for taxpayers.
Now, Bolton has "remote monitoring", a wide-ranging and ever-expanding category of electronic devices that replace some human employees, including those paid simply to sleep overnight in case something goes wrong.
Bolton said she likes her human care workers but feels "safe and comfortable" with the electronic monitors part of the time.
Motion sensors are set up in the corners of most rooms of Bolton's home. A video camera, also with a motion sensor, is aimed at the front door.
It's all controlled by electronics attached to a computer monitor where Bolton can, if necessary, see and speak to a care worker at a remote location. The sensors alert the care worker if Bolton doesn't get up in the morning, has other needs or if someone tries to enter the front door without permission.
Bolton is one of seven people with disabilities in Licking County and 170 across the state involved in the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities monitoring program. Gov. John Kasich's budget proposes expanding remote monitoring to 600 people. The state spent $2.6 million on remote monitoring last year through federal Medicaid individual- option services.
John Martin, the head of the state agency, emphasizes that remote monitoring "will never replace the need for human interaction. Caregiving is a timeless profession. it's been around for thousands of years. We will never replace all the direct-care staff. I would not consider that a success."
Home care workers are not being displaced, state and county disabilities officials said, largely because it's increasingly hard to fill those positions. More home care jobs are available than people to fill them, in part because of historically low wages.
Martin said monitoring is likewise not focused on savings, but it does generally save money- quite a lot in some cases. Martin said in one case, full-time staff members cost the state $145,000 annually, but that was pared to $45,000 with remote monitoring supplemented by humans.
"This is not just about money, but the quality of life," Martin said. "We're not getting out of the caregiving market."
Bolton's monitoring system is relatively simple. But some are sophisticated, included "shock" sensors in floors, furniture that detects the impact if someone falls and pads for beds that pick up signals if a patient has a seizure.
Jarrod Hunt of Wynn-Reeth Inc., said his company provides devices that electronically monitor whether people are taking their medications at the right times. A sound sensor for another client detected if he was getting too loud, as he occasionally did, disturbing his neighbors. A light flashed yellow, then red, if his voice volume rose too high, Hunt said. Eventually, the man learned to moderate his noise level so he no longer needed the monitor.
A unique custom monitoring system that Hunt's company developed was for a man with a disability who frequently cooked microwave popcorn late at night, sometimes burning it, filling his apartment with smoke and setting off alarms. Hunt's team installed sensors on the cabinet where the man keeps his popcorn and on the microwave. Now, a staffer reminds via a voice monitor not to burn the popcorn.
Hunt's family-owned company now has 400 clients. "We do everything a person could do except being able to touch them," he said. "We love these people. these are people who are not necessarily given the same opportunities but deserve the same dignity and independence as the rest of us."
Hunt estimated that monitoring costs one-third to one-half as much as care workers.
It's more about peace of mind than money for Sherri Anderson, whose 25-year-old daughter with disabilities, Natalie, lives alone. Anderson's daughter had 24-hour care, but now it's down to 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. She has remote monitoring from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. (She's neither monitored nor helped by staff members from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
"From my perspective, it's going very well," Anderson said. "It makes me feel more comfortable. They have a smoke detector that's wired into the system. If there's a fire, it would automatically let her know."
Anderson's daughter's apartment also has motion sensors, a camera and a monitor screen, like Bolton's home.
"I get a report every day what they're seeing," she said. "If someone does come in, they will call me immediately. It's a very valuable service."
Anderson said her daughter "likes it better and feels more independent. She like sit that people aren't there nagging her all the time, as she puts it."
Technology helps Lori Bolton feel safe at home when no one else is around.
Bolton, 41, has developmental disabilities and health issues that in the past required around-the-clock staff help from the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. but having people in her home much of the time was uncomfortable for Bolton and expensive for taxpayers.
Now, Bolton has "remote monitoring", a wide-ranging and ever-expanding category of electronic devices that replace some human employees, including those paid simply to sleep overnight in case something goes wrong.
Bolton said she likes her human care workers but feels "safe and comfortable" with the electronic monitors part of the time.
Motion sensors are set up in the corners of most rooms of Bolton's home. A video camera, also with a motion sensor, is aimed at the front door.
It's all controlled by electronics attached to a computer monitor where Bolton can, if necessary, see and speak to a care worker at a remote location. The sensors alert the care worker if Bolton doesn't get up in the morning, has other needs or if someone tries to enter the front door without permission.
Bolton is one of seven people with disabilities in Licking County and 170 across the state involved in the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities monitoring program. Gov. John Kasich's budget proposes expanding remote monitoring to 600 people. The state spent $2.6 million on remote monitoring last year through federal Medicaid individual- option services.
John Martin, the head of the state agency, emphasizes that remote monitoring "will never replace the need for human interaction. Caregiving is a timeless profession. it's been around for thousands of years. We will never replace all the direct-care staff. I would not consider that a success."
Home care workers are not being displaced, state and county disabilities officials said, largely because it's increasingly hard to fill those positions. More home care jobs are available than people to fill them, in part because of historically low wages.
Martin said monitoring is likewise not focused on savings, but it does generally save money- quite a lot in some cases. Martin said in one case, full-time staff members cost the state $145,000 annually, but that was pared to $45,000 with remote monitoring supplemented by humans.
"This is not just about money, but the quality of life," Martin said. "We're not getting out of the caregiving market."
Bolton's monitoring system is relatively simple. But some are sophisticated, included "shock" sensors in floors, furniture that detects the impact if someone falls and pads for beds that pick up signals if a patient has a seizure.
Jarrod Hunt of Wynn-Reeth Inc., said his company provides devices that electronically monitor whether people are taking their medications at the right times. A sound sensor for another client detected if he was getting too loud, as he occasionally did, disturbing his neighbors. A light flashed yellow, then red, if his voice volume rose too high, Hunt said. Eventually, the man learned to moderate his noise level so he no longer needed the monitor.
A unique custom monitoring system that Hunt's company developed was for a man with a disability who frequently cooked microwave popcorn late at night, sometimes burning it, filling his apartment with smoke and setting off alarms. Hunt's team installed sensors on the cabinet where the man keeps his popcorn and on the microwave. Now, a staffer reminds via a voice monitor not to burn the popcorn.
Hunt's family-owned company now has 400 clients. "We do everything a person could do except being able to touch them," he said. "We love these people. these are people who are not necessarily given the same opportunities but deserve the same dignity and independence as the rest of us."
Hunt estimated that monitoring costs one-third to one-half as much as care workers.
It's more about peace of mind than money for Sherri Anderson, whose 25-year-old daughter with disabilities, Natalie, lives alone. Anderson's daughter had 24-hour care, but now it's down to 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays. She has remote monitoring from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. (She's neither monitored nor helped by staff members from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
"From my perspective, it's going very well," Anderson said. "It makes me feel more comfortable. They have a smoke detector that's wired into the system. If there's a fire, it would automatically let her know."
Anderson's daughter's apartment also has motion sensors, a camera and a monitor screen, like Bolton's home.
"I get a report every day what they're seeing," she said. "If someone does come in, they will call me immediately. It's a very valuable service."
Anderson said her daughter "likes it better and feels more independent. She like sit that people aren't there nagging her all the time, as she puts it."
IN THE NEWS- ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES BECOME RADIO 'ROCK STARS'
The Florida Times-Union shares the following report..
When Benjamin Lee is on the air as part of the WPCR 1670 AM team broadcasting the Pine Castle Morning News, he frequently veers off script.
The results often leave the rest of the team laughing so hard they have a hard time keeping their composure.
During a recent show, Lee read through his "This Day in History" bits about Andrew Johnson, the first U.S. president to have impeachment proceedings launched against him by the House of Representatives; the lease for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, being signed; and Adolph Hitler outlining the basic points of the Nazi party in Munich.
He followed that serious stuff with a "Star Wars" ad lib;
"I am your father," he said, in his best deep-voiced James Earl Jones.
The Morning News is the first radio show in Florida written and produced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Lee and the rest of the WPCR morning crew are clients at Pine Castle, a work- and life-skills training and activity center in Jacksonville. Their live show is broadcast to most of the 13-acre campus, where other clients and staff listen in on small radios.
Among other services, the nonprofit has on- and-off campus employment programs for its 280 participants, 36 of whom live in group homes on the property. The 30-minute radio show is a recreational, social and training activity, with participants learning on-air, production, interpersonal and other skills that could lead to real-life employment.
"We're really proud of what we're doing here," said Jon May, Pine Castle CEO. "Our folks are so excited about the experience."
The show has been broadcast Monday through Friday for about 2 1/2 years, initially via walkie-talkie, but for the past year in a new studio equipped with all the bells and whistles.
The crew recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Terry G. Clark Jr. Studio, which was funded by an anonymous donor in memory of a former anchor and technical producer. Clark, who dreamed of the show having its own studio, died in 2015 at age 25.
"He will be missed forever," Lee said
Clark's mother, Jackie Clark-Holsey, attended the anniversary broadcast.
"I feel his presence here. Terry loved being a part of the radio show, she said. "This is truly a blessing."
The show is broadcast on a short-range AM transmitter with future plans for a second transmitter to get a clearer signal to more of the campus, said show manager Reagan Norton, who is also the nonprofit's training coordinator.
Norton also envisions a podcast and live stream on the Pine Castle website, which would allow the public to listen in from anywhere in the world, and expanded programming. Other clients, he said "want to be a part of it, want more shows."
"It's fun. Everybody puts in a great deal of work," he said. "This past year has been an absolute blast."
Norton kicks off each show and occasionally adds his own humorous Jeff Foxsworthy-type Southern humor. The "radio personalities"are Anna Rosado, Percival Howliet, Lori Sammonds, Dan Fox, Kyle Ferris, Cambryn Doran and Blake Struss; technical producers are Desmond Parish, Datryl Morris, Charles Passley and Dawn Smith.
"It's a good job that we are happy to do," Sammonds said.
In addition to "This Day in History" and the "Joke of the Day," the content includes news, sports, weather, the campus lunch menu and a trivia question. Norton prepares a working script for each show, but the team is encouraged to add their own twists.
"They have to be able to improvise," he said.
Lee is the king of ad-libbing, with 90 percent of his utterances off the cuff, Norton said.
Rasado is the host, introducing the other on-air people and their segments and acting as the buffer between them.
"I love it," she said.
Howliet may be the most passionate about being a radio broadcaster.
"It's been a dream of mine since I was a boy," he said. "I'm getting to show what I always wanted to do."
Fox particularly loves his "Joke of the Day" spots, which competes with Lee's ad libs to keep the team in stitches.
"What happens when you cross a shark and a cow," Fox asked for the anniversary broadcast.
"I don't know, but I don't want to milk it," he said.
He burst into laughter along ith the rest of the team and a crowd of observers looking through a window.
"I feel like a rock star," Fox said.
When Benjamin Lee is on the air as part of the WPCR 1670 AM team broadcasting the Pine Castle Morning News, he frequently veers off script.
The results often leave the rest of the team laughing so hard they have a hard time keeping their composure.
During a recent show, Lee read through his "This Day in History" bits about Andrew Johnson, the first U.S. president to have impeachment proceedings launched against him by the House of Representatives; the lease for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, being signed; and Adolph Hitler outlining the basic points of the Nazi party in Munich.
He followed that serious stuff with a "Star Wars" ad lib;
"I am your father," he said, in his best deep-voiced James Earl Jones.
The Morning News is the first radio show in Florida written and produced by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Lee and the rest of the WPCR morning crew are clients at Pine Castle, a work- and life-skills training and activity center in Jacksonville. Their live show is broadcast to most of the 13-acre campus, where other clients and staff listen in on small radios.
Among other services, the nonprofit has on- and-off campus employment programs for its 280 participants, 36 of whom live in group homes on the property. The 30-minute radio show is a recreational, social and training activity, with participants learning on-air, production, interpersonal and other skills that could lead to real-life employment.
"We're really proud of what we're doing here," said Jon May, Pine Castle CEO. "Our folks are so excited about the experience."
The show has been broadcast Monday through Friday for about 2 1/2 years, initially via walkie-talkie, but for the past year in a new studio equipped with all the bells and whistles.
The crew recently celebrated the first anniversary of the Terry G. Clark Jr. Studio, which was funded by an anonymous donor in memory of a former anchor and technical producer. Clark, who dreamed of the show having its own studio, died in 2015 at age 25.
"He will be missed forever," Lee said
Clark's mother, Jackie Clark-Holsey, attended the anniversary broadcast.
"I feel his presence here. Terry loved being a part of the radio show, she said. "This is truly a blessing."
The show is broadcast on a short-range AM transmitter with future plans for a second transmitter to get a clearer signal to more of the campus, said show manager Reagan Norton, who is also the nonprofit's training coordinator.
Norton also envisions a podcast and live stream on the Pine Castle website, which would allow the public to listen in from anywhere in the world, and expanded programming. Other clients, he said "want to be a part of it, want more shows."
"It's fun. Everybody puts in a great deal of work," he said. "This past year has been an absolute blast."
Norton kicks off each show and occasionally adds his own humorous Jeff Foxsworthy-type Southern humor. The "radio personalities"are Anna Rosado, Percival Howliet, Lori Sammonds, Dan Fox, Kyle Ferris, Cambryn Doran and Blake Struss; technical producers are Desmond Parish, Datryl Morris, Charles Passley and Dawn Smith.
"It's a good job that we are happy to do," Sammonds said.
In addition to "This Day in History" and the "Joke of the Day," the content includes news, sports, weather, the campus lunch menu and a trivia question. Norton prepares a working script for each show, but the team is encouraged to add their own twists.
"They have to be able to improvise," he said.
Lee is the king of ad-libbing, with 90 percent of his utterances off the cuff, Norton said.
Rasado is the host, introducing the other on-air people and their segments and acting as the buffer between them.
"I love it," she said.
Howliet may be the most passionate about being a radio broadcaster.
"It's been a dream of mine since I was a boy," he said. "I'm getting to show what I always wanted to do."
Fox particularly loves his "Joke of the Day" spots, which competes with Lee's ad libs to keep the team in stitches.
"What happens when you cross a shark and a cow," Fox asked for the anniversary broadcast.
"I don't know, but I don't want to milk it," he said.
He burst into laughter along ith the rest of the team and a crowd of observers looking through a window.
"I feel like a rock star," Fox said.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
ME & LIFE
Random thoughts..
VILLANOVA-
What a disgrace! Only TWO people were there when the Villanova basketball team returned to campus late last night from their loss to Wisconsin. Proves again that Villanova supporters are front-runners. More than ever, the Cats needed support last night. Instead, the elite, clueless students and fans snubbed their own squad. Typical, Main Line snobs.
Villanova fans will make excuses. They were robbed ib the bracket, the dopey NCAA seeding underrated Wisconsin in the 8th slot instead of higher. Bottom line is, this Wildcat team wasn't good enough. They reverted back to former Nova teams that choked in the early round sof the tournament.
You can blame players like Kris Jenkins for being too full of himself. He made the big shot last year, which will always stay with him. He totally sucked this ear in the big game, a memory that also will stay with him. Coach Jay Wright also didn't have his best game, as the team came out flat-again.
Villanova will be OK. They will recruit more players to the Main Line. They will have a brand new, renovated arena in a few years. Life will go on. But the "glory days" of Villanova basketball are over for now. Locally, until a Big Five team finally beats Nova and snap their record 16-game winning streak over local Philly teams, Villanova will continue to dominate.
But let's face it- Villanova basketball, and college basketball in general, will always be second-rate in these parts. No one really cares, other than around tourney time.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST...A REVIEW-
I saw the Disney live-action movie Beauty and the Beast this weekend. It should break all box office records. Waiting in line, several people remarked that they were seeing the new film for a second time, that's how much they loved it.
I loved it too. It has music, but not wall-to-wall music. It has action, and some scary moments for kids. It has humor, romance and sadness. It's a great family film. The theater was packed with both families, teens and senior citizens. When the movie started, there was a crowd buzz among the crunching of popcorn. But as the flick went on, you could hear a pin drop in the theater. The crowd was engrossed by the charm and special effects. At the end, applause erupted, always a good sign that a movie will do well.
Emma Watson made a nice Belle. She cute, pretty, feisty and smart.. The rest of the cast, including Dan Stevens as Beast, were really good. I liked the talking clock, candle and tea pot. During musical numbers like "Be Our Guest" the production was fantastic. During the dancing sequence of the lovely title song, the mood was elegant and romantic.
This movie will be an instant classic. That's how I felt watching it. I wasn't bored, and even thoguh I knew there would be a happy ending, I was still kept in suspense by how it would all unfold.
Easily, I give Beauty and the Beast 4 stars out of 5-
CHUCK BERRY-
Rock n' roll legend Chuck Berry died yesterday at age 90.
I was never a big Chuck Berry fan, but I respected his impact on music. If there was no Chuck berry, there may have never been The Beatles. Now that he's gone, his list of songs is more impressive than ever.
I often wonder what life would've been like if music icons such as Buddy Holly and John Lennon didn't die so young. Would they have continued to make music for years to come? Or would they have instead be reclusive, greatest hits wonders in concert, kind of like Billy Joel?
At 90, we got as much as we could from Berry. In fact, he has a new, original album coming out this year. I'm sure that collection will be a big seller, as will the rest of his music. Records sell after legends die.
Berry was weird and had peculiar ways, such as not trusting anyone in the music business, and only accepting cash for his performances. But, regardless of his weirdness, Chuck Berry will always be a rock n' roll legend.
VILLANOVA-
What a disgrace! Only TWO people were there when the Villanova basketball team returned to campus late last night from their loss to Wisconsin. Proves again that Villanova supporters are front-runners. More than ever, the Cats needed support last night. Instead, the elite, clueless students and fans snubbed their own squad. Typical, Main Line snobs.
Villanova fans will make excuses. They were robbed ib the bracket, the dopey NCAA seeding underrated Wisconsin in the 8th slot instead of higher. Bottom line is, this Wildcat team wasn't good enough. They reverted back to former Nova teams that choked in the early round sof the tournament.
You can blame players like Kris Jenkins for being too full of himself. He made the big shot last year, which will always stay with him. He totally sucked this ear in the big game, a memory that also will stay with him. Coach Jay Wright also didn't have his best game, as the team came out flat-again.
Villanova will be OK. They will recruit more players to the Main Line. They will have a brand new, renovated arena in a few years. Life will go on. But the "glory days" of Villanova basketball are over for now. Locally, until a Big Five team finally beats Nova and snap their record 16-game winning streak over local Philly teams, Villanova will continue to dominate.
But let's face it- Villanova basketball, and college basketball in general, will always be second-rate in these parts. No one really cares, other than around tourney time.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST...A REVIEW-
I saw the Disney live-action movie Beauty and the Beast this weekend. It should break all box office records. Waiting in line, several people remarked that they were seeing the new film for a second time, that's how much they loved it.
I loved it too. It has music, but not wall-to-wall music. It has action, and some scary moments for kids. It has humor, romance and sadness. It's a great family film. The theater was packed with both families, teens and senior citizens. When the movie started, there was a crowd buzz among the crunching of popcorn. But as the flick went on, you could hear a pin drop in the theater. The crowd was engrossed by the charm and special effects. At the end, applause erupted, always a good sign that a movie will do well.
Emma Watson made a nice Belle. She cute, pretty, feisty and smart.. The rest of the cast, including Dan Stevens as Beast, were really good. I liked the talking clock, candle and tea pot. During musical numbers like "Be Our Guest" the production was fantastic. During the dancing sequence of the lovely title song, the mood was elegant and romantic.
This movie will be an instant classic. That's how I felt watching it. I wasn't bored, and even thoguh I knew there would be a happy ending, I was still kept in suspense by how it would all unfold.
Easily, I give Beauty and the Beast 4 stars out of 5-
CHUCK BERRY-
Rock n' roll legend Chuck Berry died yesterday at age 90.
I was never a big Chuck Berry fan, but I respected his impact on music. If there was no Chuck berry, there may have never been The Beatles. Now that he's gone, his list of songs is more impressive than ever.
I often wonder what life would've been like if music icons such as Buddy Holly and John Lennon didn't die so young. Would they have continued to make music for years to come? Or would they have instead be reclusive, greatest hits wonders in concert, kind of like Billy Joel?
At 90, we got as much as we could from Berry. In fact, he has a new, original album coming out this year. I'm sure that collection will be a big seller, as will the rest of his music. Records sell after legends die.
Berry was weird and had peculiar ways, such as not trusting anyone in the music business, and only accepting cash for his performances. But, regardless of his weirdness, Chuck Berry will always be a rock n' roll legend.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER
Weekend thoughts..
VILLANOVA-
The Cats choked. Up 7 with 5 minutes to go. Hard to repeat as NCAA champs. They had a great year, etc..but the bototm line is, they just weren't good enough.
At least get to the Sweet Sixteen..Elite Eight..Final Four. To get knocked out so early..memories of past Villanova tournament teams.
Nova fans will blame the bad bracket, with underrated teams like Wisconsin and Duke. But your'e gonna have to beat those team anyway to win a title, be it in the second round or later.
Villanova students must be in shock tonight. They were too cocky, too confident in the last few days. One clueless student didn't care that the Wildcats won the Big East tourney, saying "Who cares? We're national champs!"
Not anymore.
PHILLIES-
The prospects are slowly being assigned to their minor league teams as spring training winds down. But youngsters like Roman Quinn, Brock Stassi and Andrew Knapp remain. I get it, adding professional hitters to the line-up lime Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders. But give the fans a taste of the future, a little hope, a reason to watch this summer, by bring players like Quinn, Stassi and Knapp north.
Quinn and Atherr could be the extra outfields. Both are excellent defenders. Quinn can steal a late-game base. Altherr offers pop off the bench. Better the kids then washed-up guys like Chris Coughlin who isn't part of the future.
Do we have to worry about struggling pitchers such as Aaron Nola and Jeremy Hellickson, or are they simply fine-tuning their game for Opening Day? I most worry about Nola, since he is coming off elbow problems. When his control isn't there ( he walked 4 yesterday) Nola doesn't have the stuff to power his way around a line-up.
The good thing is, if any of these pitchers fail, the Phils do have starting pitching depth at Lehigh Valley. Guys like Jake Thompson or Zach Efflin can easily come to Philadelphia and pick up the slack. Plus, Hellickson won't be in Philly next year ( or, maybe as soon as late summer).
The final bullpen and bench jobs will be interesting decisions in a few weeks when spring training ends. Young guys like Hoskins, Cozens, Crawford , Alfaro and Williams acquitted themselves well in Florida. Looking forward to seeing each called up soon.Give them some experience this summer, before turning the page to a new crop of Pihllies in 2018.
EAGLES_
Not much Eagles news this week, after a flurry of activity in free agency last week. News broke that safety Malcolm Jenkins will be owed $10 million next year. Would the Birds trade him by then, even if he's still playing well? Would the team draft not only a pair of corners this spring, but a top-notch saety as well?
When-not if- will vets like Kendricks, Kelce and Mathews be cut or traded? My guess is around the draft. GM Howie Rossman will try to get something for these players in a trade before releasing more players to make cap room space.
The team may be pretty well done in the free agent market. Next is the draft. Rumors swirl about who the birds will take in the first round.Receiver? Running Back?Corner? Defensive End? Will the Eagles trade up or down?
FLYERS-
I'm tired of the Flyers, their stepford fans, and the media saying the team is in "do or die" mode and still clinging to faint playoff hopes.They aren';t good enough, and even if they sneak into the playoffs as a wild card, they won't last long. This team still needs major repair. As they bring up more promising prospects, their core vets seem to be at the downhill side of their careers. Will the Flyers trade more vets during the off-season, or build around their current crew? What will happen with the goalie situation? Will Mason, Nurweirth, or both-or neither- return, while the goaltenders in the minors wait?
I say, clean house. What you've got now isn't working, and the aging players won't be getting any younger.
VILLANOVA-
The Cats choked. Up 7 with 5 minutes to go. Hard to repeat as NCAA champs. They had a great year, etc..but the bototm line is, they just weren't good enough.
At least get to the Sweet Sixteen..Elite Eight..Final Four. To get knocked out so early..memories of past Villanova tournament teams.
Nova fans will blame the bad bracket, with underrated teams like Wisconsin and Duke. But your'e gonna have to beat those team anyway to win a title, be it in the second round or later.
Villanova students must be in shock tonight. They were too cocky, too confident in the last few days. One clueless student didn't care that the Wildcats won the Big East tourney, saying "Who cares? We're national champs!"
Not anymore.
PHILLIES-
The prospects are slowly being assigned to their minor league teams as spring training winds down. But youngsters like Roman Quinn, Brock Stassi and Andrew Knapp remain. I get it, adding professional hitters to the line-up lime Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders. But give the fans a taste of the future, a little hope, a reason to watch this summer, by bring players like Quinn, Stassi and Knapp north.
Quinn and Atherr could be the extra outfields. Both are excellent defenders. Quinn can steal a late-game base. Altherr offers pop off the bench. Better the kids then washed-up guys like Chris Coughlin who isn't part of the future.
Do we have to worry about struggling pitchers such as Aaron Nola and Jeremy Hellickson, or are they simply fine-tuning their game for Opening Day? I most worry about Nola, since he is coming off elbow problems. When his control isn't there ( he walked 4 yesterday) Nola doesn't have the stuff to power his way around a line-up.
The good thing is, if any of these pitchers fail, the Phils do have starting pitching depth at Lehigh Valley. Guys like Jake Thompson or Zach Efflin can easily come to Philadelphia and pick up the slack. Plus, Hellickson won't be in Philly next year ( or, maybe as soon as late summer).
The final bullpen and bench jobs will be interesting decisions in a few weeks when spring training ends. Young guys like Hoskins, Cozens, Crawford , Alfaro and Williams acquitted themselves well in Florida. Looking forward to seeing each called up soon.Give them some experience this summer, before turning the page to a new crop of Pihllies in 2018.
EAGLES_
Not much Eagles news this week, after a flurry of activity in free agency last week. News broke that safety Malcolm Jenkins will be owed $10 million next year. Would the Birds trade him by then, even if he's still playing well? Would the team draft not only a pair of corners this spring, but a top-notch saety as well?
When-not if- will vets like Kendricks, Kelce and Mathews be cut or traded? My guess is around the draft. GM Howie Rossman will try to get something for these players in a trade before releasing more players to make cap room space.
The team may be pretty well done in the free agent market. Next is the draft. Rumors swirl about who the birds will take in the first round.Receiver? Running Back?Corner? Defensive End? Will the Eagles trade up or down?
FLYERS-
I'm tired of the Flyers, their stepford fans, and the media saying the team is in "do or die" mode and still clinging to faint playoff hopes.They aren';t good enough, and even if they sneak into the playoffs as a wild card, they won't last long. This team still needs major repair. As they bring up more promising prospects, their core vets seem to be at the downhill side of their careers. Will the Flyers trade more vets during the off-season, or build around their current crew? What will happen with the goalie situation? Will Mason, Nurweirth, or both-or neither- return, while the goaltenders in the minors wait?
I say, clean house. What you've got now isn't working, and the aging players won't be getting any younger.
Friday, March 17, 2017
IN THE NEWS- AUTISM MAY BE DETECTABLE IN BLOOD
Another interesting item from Disability Scoop..
Scientists say they can predict with near perfect accuracy whether or not a child has autism from a blood sample.
Using an algorithm to assess metabolites in blood, researchers were able to identify samples that came from kids with autism in 97.6 percent of cases.
The findings published recently in the journal PLOS Computational Biology open the door to a possible biomarker for autism.
"The method presented in this work is the only one of its kind that can classify an individual as being on the autism spectrum or as being neurotypical," said Juergen Hahn of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. and the lead author of the study. "We are not aware of any other method, using any type of biomarker that can do this, much less with the degree of accuracy that we see in our work."
The study involved blood samples collected from 83 children with autism and 76 neurotypical children ages 3 to 10 at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Rather than examining one particular gene or a single biomarker, researchers used big data techniques to take a broader look in order to find statistically significant patterns.
In kids with autism, substances produced by what are known as folate- dependent one- carbon metabolism and transulfuration pathways were altered, according to the findings.
"Instead of looking at individual metabolites, we investigated patterns of several metabolites and found significant differences between metabolites of children with ASD and those that are neurotypical. These differences allow us to categorize whether an individual is on the autism spectrum," Hahn said. "By measuring 24 metabolites from a blood sample, this algorithm can tell whether or not an individual is on the autism spectrum, and even to some degree where on the spectrum they land."
Hahn said that he's looking to replicate the results, but indicated the findings could point to new ways to diagnose autism or potential treatments for the developmental disorder.
Scientists say they can predict with near perfect accuracy whether or not a child has autism from a blood sample.
Using an algorithm to assess metabolites in blood, researchers were able to identify samples that came from kids with autism in 97.6 percent of cases.
The findings published recently in the journal PLOS Computational Biology open the door to a possible biomarker for autism.
"The method presented in this work is the only one of its kind that can classify an individual as being on the autism spectrum or as being neurotypical," said Juergen Hahn of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. and the lead author of the study. "We are not aware of any other method, using any type of biomarker that can do this, much less with the degree of accuracy that we see in our work."
The study involved blood samples collected from 83 children with autism and 76 neurotypical children ages 3 to 10 at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Rather than examining one particular gene or a single biomarker, researchers used big data techniques to take a broader look in order to find statistically significant patterns.
In kids with autism, substances produced by what are known as folate- dependent one- carbon metabolism and transulfuration pathways were altered, according to the findings.
"Instead of looking at individual metabolites, we investigated patterns of several metabolites and found significant differences between metabolites of children with ASD and those that are neurotypical. These differences allow us to categorize whether an individual is on the autism spectrum," Hahn said. "By measuring 24 metabolites from a blood sample, this algorithm can tell whether or not an individual is on the autism spectrum, and even to some degree where on the spectrum they land."
Hahn said that he's looking to replicate the results, but indicated the findings could point to new ways to diagnose autism or potential treatments for the developmental disorder.
IN THE NEWS- TRUMP'S "SKINNY BUDGET" SOWS UNCERTAINTY FOR DISABILITY PROGRAMS
This article is from Disability Scoop...
Deep cuts to domestic spending outlined in a budget plan released by the White House this week could have big implications for people with developmental disabilities.
The White House Office of Management and Budget unveiled a 62-page so-called "skinny budget" recently offering a look at the Trump administration's fiscal priorities for 2018.
The proposal calls for substantial increases in defense and homeland security spending and fun ding for a wall along the border with Mexico coupled with broad domestic cuts touching everything from education to medical research, housing and transportation programs.
"We are going to do more with less, and make the government lean and accountable to the people," President Donald Trump wrote in a note accompanying the plan.
The budget blueprint includes a 17.9 percent drop to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 13 percent less for the Department of Education, a 13.2 percent reduction in Department of Housing and Urban Development spending and a decrease of 21 percent for the Department of Labor.
"Given that people with disabilities rely on non-defense discretionary programs much more than defense, homeland security and veterans funding, having such a huge cut in (non-defense discretionary programs) funding will have a devastating impact on the programs people with disabilities use and rely on to work, receive an education ( and) live in the community," said David Card of the National Disability Rights Network.
Trump's plan "refocuses" the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy, "eliminating less critical technical assistance grants and launching an early intervention demonstration project to allow states to test and evaluate methods that help individuals with disabilities remain attached to or reconnect to the labor market."
Details are scant regarding how the proposed cutbacks in domestic funding would affect many other programs serving people with developmental disabilities.
The president's proposal represents a first step in the budget process and any spending plan would need approval from Congress.
One area that's not on Trump's chopping block, however, is special education. The budget blueprint "maintains approximately $ 13 billion in funding " for programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Nonetheless, advocates say, it's too early to tell what that might given the limited information in the skinny budget,
"Is the funding flat in total for (IDEA) Part C, 619, Part B and Part D, or is the funding flat for just Part B and are the other elements of the law cut? We won't know until the more formal budget comes out in May, " said Katy Beh Neas, executive vice president for public affairs at Easterseals.
Deep cuts to domestic spending outlined in a budget plan released by the White House this week could have big implications for people with developmental disabilities.
The White House Office of Management and Budget unveiled a 62-page so-called "skinny budget" recently offering a look at the Trump administration's fiscal priorities for 2018.
The proposal calls for substantial increases in defense and homeland security spending and fun ding for a wall along the border with Mexico coupled with broad domestic cuts touching everything from education to medical research, housing and transportation programs.
"We are going to do more with less, and make the government lean and accountable to the people," President Donald Trump wrote in a note accompanying the plan.
The budget blueprint includes a 17.9 percent drop to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 13 percent less for the Department of Education, a 13.2 percent reduction in Department of Housing and Urban Development spending and a decrease of 21 percent for the Department of Labor.
"Given that people with disabilities rely on non-defense discretionary programs much more than defense, homeland security and veterans funding, having such a huge cut in (non-defense discretionary programs) funding will have a devastating impact on the programs people with disabilities use and rely on to work, receive an education ( and) live in the community," said David Card of the National Disability Rights Network.
Trump's plan "refocuses" the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy, "eliminating less critical technical assistance grants and launching an early intervention demonstration project to allow states to test and evaluate methods that help individuals with disabilities remain attached to or reconnect to the labor market."
Details are scant regarding how the proposed cutbacks in domestic funding would affect many other programs serving people with developmental disabilities.
The president's proposal represents a first step in the budget process and any spending plan would need approval from Congress.
One area that's not on Trump's chopping block, however, is special education. The budget blueprint "maintains approximately $ 13 billion in funding " for programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Nonetheless, advocates say, it's too early to tell what that might given the limited information in the skinny budget,
"Is the funding flat in total for (IDEA) Part C, 619, Part B and Part D, or is the funding flat for just Part B and are the other elements of the law cut? We won't know until the more formal budget comes out in May, " said Katy Beh Neas, executive vice president for public affairs at Easterseals.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
IN THE NEWS- POLICE LEARN TO BETTER UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The San Antonio Express-News provides the following article...
When Tom Iland began driving as a teenager roughly 15 years ago, his mother Emily fretted endlessly.
Iland was diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, and his mother worried he might be stopped by police and wouldn't know how to react to common police demands or questions.
Iland loves Jim Carrey movies and quoted them religiously. At times, he also had a hard time making ete contact, a common characteristic of the condition.
"What if he quoted a Jim Carrey movie in the middle of a traffic stop?" Emily wondered. "What if he didn't make eye contact, and the police officer thought it was odd?"
Emily Iland, at the time a stay-at-home mom, decided to launch a career as an autism advocate and researcher. She is now an adjunct professor in the department of special education at California State Universality, Northridge, and she has developed. with the help of her son,developmental and intellectual disability training for law enforcement agencies nationwide, including the Los Angeles Police Department.
The training is designed to help officers better understand autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome ADHD and other conditions and to teach those with disabilities how to act if they have a police encounter or need assistance from an officer.
"It's not enough to train the police,"Tom Iland said. "Young people don;t know what to expect when they interact with an officer. We designed this program to be a bridge,"
Roughly 15 percent of children in the United States- or about one in six- have a developmental disability, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additionally, the prevalence of developmental disabilities has increased nearly 17 percent between 1996 and 2008, according to a CDC study.
As the number of people with disabilities has increased, so too has the number of violent or deadly interactions with police officers.
In 2013, a 26-year-old Maryland man with Down syndrome died of asphyxiation after he refused to leave a movie theater and sheriff's deputies put him on the floor and handcuffed him, despite pleas from his caretaker to stop.
And in 2009, a Tennessee man with cerebral palsy accidentally hit a dog with his car. He explained to responding deputies that he had a medical condition, but the officers believed he was driving drunk and sent him to jail.
And in 2009, a deaf man who had become ill while using a public restroom was pepper sprayed and Tasered repeatedly by police officers who grew concerned after he didn't respond to their warnings. He hadn't heard them.
The Ilands hope the training will prevent such tragedies. When an arrest does need to occur, the Illands coach officers to accommodate individuals with disabilities- for example, handcuffing an individual with cerebral palsy and two sets of handcuffs , since being confined in one pair is very painful for people with the condition.
In January, the U.S. Department of Justice issued similar guidelines, recommending officers make slight modifications to their police strategies in such situations.
"It's not special treatment," said Tom Iland. "It's accommodations."
Emily and Tom Iland say their two-way approach to training is the first of its kind.
At a recent training with 40 officers from various law enforcement agencies in Texas, the course started with a 60-page presentation, education officers about common characteristics that many people with developmental disabilities exhibit. The instructors also led participants in hands-on training. At one point,they were instructed to use silicone oven mitts and try to place paperclips on a stack of papers to show what it feels like to have cerebral palsy.
"I can't do it! This is hard!" said one individual with a disability.
"Your'e doing great!" an officer responded as he struggled to do it.
The training is meant to build this type of compassion and establish relationships. "Having empathy first is an odd way to train, but research shows it's very effective," Emily Iland said.
Sgt. Tom Vitacco of Alamo Heights police and Sgt. Tina Vitacco of Universal City police- the two are married- showed individuals with disabilities the tools they carry on their uniform. They told them it's OK to look and ask questions, but it's not OK to touch.
"Young people with disabilities often do things that create bad situations, like running from police or touching an officer's weapon," Tom Iland explained.
Berni Kelly, an associate director of curriculum at The Arc of San Antonio, a social service organization for people with developmental disabilities, said she was impressed by the training.
Kelly has a 21-year-old son with high-functioning autism. She often worries what would happen if he had a bad interaction with police officers who don't understand his condition or social skills.
Her son, who is in a public school, recently became angry after his teacher changed his reading privileges in an effort to focus on social skills instead.
The teacher wasn't able to calm Kelly's son, and she called Kelly to say: Get here in 15 minutes, or I'm calling the police.
Kelly knows her son, who is 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds, would never hurt anyone. But officers may not understand his mannerisms and feel threatened by his size.
"This is a bridge that really does need to be gapped," Kelly said.
When Tom Iland began driving as a teenager roughly 15 years ago, his mother Emily fretted endlessly.
Iland was diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, and his mother worried he might be stopped by police and wouldn't know how to react to common police demands or questions.
Iland loves Jim Carrey movies and quoted them religiously. At times, he also had a hard time making ete contact, a common characteristic of the condition.
"What if he quoted a Jim Carrey movie in the middle of a traffic stop?" Emily wondered. "What if he didn't make eye contact, and the police officer thought it was odd?"
Emily Iland, at the time a stay-at-home mom, decided to launch a career as an autism advocate and researcher. She is now an adjunct professor in the department of special education at California State Universality, Northridge, and she has developed. with the help of her son,developmental and intellectual disability training for law enforcement agencies nationwide, including the Los Angeles Police Department.
The training is designed to help officers better understand autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome ADHD and other conditions and to teach those with disabilities how to act if they have a police encounter or need assistance from an officer.
"It's not enough to train the police,"Tom Iland said. "Young people don;t know what to expect when they interact with an officer. We designed this program to be a bridge,"
Roughly 15 percent of children in the United States- or about one in six- have a developmental disability, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additionally, the prevalence of developmental disabilities has increased nearly 17 percent between 1996 and 2008, according to a CDC study.
As the number of people with disabilities has increased, so too has the number of violent or deadly interactions with police officers.
In 2013, a 26-year-old Maryland man with Down syndrome died of asphyxiation after he refused to leave a movie theater and sheriff's deputies put him on the floor and handcuffed him, despite pleas from his caretaker to stop.
And in 2009, a Tennessee man with cerebral palsy accidentally hit a dog with his car. He explained to responding deputies that he had a medical condition, but the officers believed he was driving drunk and sent him to jail.
And in 2009, a deaf man who had become ill while using a public restroom was pepper sprayed and Tasered repeatedly by police officers who grew concerned after he didn't respond to their warnings. He hadn't heard them.
The Ilands hope the training will prevent such tragedies. When an arrest does need to occur, the Illands coach officers to accommodate individuals with disabilities- for example, handcuffing an individual with cerebral palsy and two sets of handcuffs , since being confined in one pair is very painful for people with the condition.
In January, the U.S. Department of Justice issued similar guidelines, recommending officers make slight modifications to their police strategies in such situations.
"It's not special treatment," said Tom Iland. "It's accommodations."
Emily and Tom Iland say their two-way approach to training is the first of its kind.
At a recent training with 40 officers from various law enforcement agencies in Texas, the course started with a 60-page presentation, education officers about common characteristics that many people with developmental disabilities exhibit. The instructors also led participants in hands-on training. At one point,they were instructed to use silicone oven mitts and try to place paperclips on a stack of papers to show what it feels like to have cerebral palsy.
"I can't do it! This is hard!" said one individual with a disability.
"Your'e doing great!" an officer responded as he struggled to do it.
The training is meant to build this type of compassion and establish relationships. "Having empathy first is an odd way to train, but research shows it's very effective," Emily Iland said.
Sgt. Tom Vitacco of Alamo Heights police and Sgt. Tina Vitacco of Universal City police- the two are married- showed individuals with disabilities the tools they carry on their uniform. They told them it's OK to look and ask questions, but it's not OK to touch.
"Young people with disabilities often do things that create bad situations, like running from police or touching an officer's weapon," Tom Iland explained.
Berni Kelly, an associate director of curriculum at The Arc of San Antonio, a social service organization for people with developmental disabilities, said she was impressed by the training.
Kelly has a 21-year-old son with high-functioning autism. She often worries what would happen if he had a bad interaction with police officers who don't understand his condition or social skills.
Her son, who is in a public school, recently became angry after his teacher changed his reading privileges in an effort to focus on social skills instead.
The teacher wasn't able to calm Kelly's son, and she called Kelly to say: Get here in 15 minutes, or I'm calling the police.
Kelly knows her son, who is 6-foot-1 and 300 pounds, would never hurt anyone. But officers may not understand his mannerisms and feel threatened by his size.
"This is a bridge that really does need to be gapped," Kelly said.
OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING- HOW TO LIVE A "NO EXCUSES" LIFESTYLE & SUCCEED
I wrote the following article for The Phoenix newspaper for publication on June 20, 2006...
A great inspirational book to read is "No Excuses" by Kyle Maynard (Regnery Publishing). Perhaps you saw Kyle on Oprah this past season. Kyle is a teenager from a small town in Georgia. He was born as a congenial amputee- his arms ending at his elbows and his legs at his knees.
The audio biography tells how Kyle beat the odds with a "no excuses" attitude, instilled by his parents, future sports coaches, and by his own inner faith and determination.
Kyle has faced many challenges and beat the odds in life, becoming a champion athlete, inspirational speaker, college student and even male model.
Even though Kyle played football in high school ( he was a tough-nosed defensive lineman), his true love is wrestling. He lost all of his initial matches, but after hours and hours of practice and tips from coaches who never gave up on his ability, Kyle began winning matches. He even became a state champion. Even to this day, although he has lost matches, he has never been pinned in his wrestling career.
The book not only explores Kyle's feelings and coping skills, but it leans heavily on the influence from his family, friends and coaches as he was growing up.
The book also contains a diet and exercise regimen, plus thirteen ways to live a "No Excuses" life.
Kyle was named the "World's Strongest Teen" when in 2005 he broke a bench pressing world record by lifting 360 lbs.
All this without hands.
He does just about everything any able-bodied person does too, including drive. This is one element of the book I wished to learn more about. How does Kyle do normal, everyday things, like driving, tying his shoes and eating- without the benefit of hands or feet? What are his feelings about dating? How did he earn any money as all teenagers do?
Although I love sports, if your'e not into sports, (specifically wrestling)those sections of his story may be a bit long, as his challenges in the world of sports are profiled to a great extent.
Still, Kyle's story is one of inspiration and determination, and well worth the read. I think it would be especially interesting to other teens and any athlete.
I must admit, when I saw him on Oprah, "walking" into the studio on the stumps of his elbows and knees, then climbing up on the couch for the interview, I felt strange. Not pity, maybe just an uncomfortable feeling, a sight rarely seen. But once the interview began I felt Kyle was just as "normal" as anyone. More importantly, he had his head on straight. He doesn't stress the small stuff, and looks at the positive things in life.
This made me appreciate his book even more.
It also proves once again that one's state of mind emerges as the most important asset an individual possesses.
You can pick up Kyle's story at most bookstores or order it on Amazon.com
A great inspirational book to read is "No Excuses" by Kyle Maynard (Regnery Publishing). Perhaps you saw Kyle on Oprah this past season. Kyle is a teenager from a small town in Georgia. He was born as a congenial amputee- his arms ending at his elbows and his legs at his knees.
The audio biography tells how Kyle beat the odds with a "no excuses" attitude, instilled by his parents, future sports coaches, and by his own inner faith and determination.
Kyle has faced many challenges and beat the odds in life, becoming a champion athlete, inspirational speaker, college student and even male model.
Even though Kyle played football in high school ( he was a tough-nosed defensive lineman), his true love is wrestling. He lost all of his initial matches, but after hours and hours of practice and tips from coaches who never gave up on his ability, Kyle began winning matches. He even became a state champion. Even to this day, although he has lost matches, he has never been pinned in his wrestling career.
The book not only explores Kyle's feelings and coping skills, but it leans heavily on the influence from his family, friends and coaches as he was growing up.
The book also contains a diet and exercise regimen, plus thirteen ways to live a "No Excuses" life.
Kyle was named the "World's Strongest Teen" when in 2005 he broke a bench pressing world record by lifting 360 lbs.
All this without hands.
He does just about everything any able-bodied person does too, including drive. This is one element of the book I wished to learn more about. How does Kyle do normal, everyday things, like driving, tying his shoes and eating- without the benefit of hands or feet? What are his feelings about dating? How did he earn any money as all teenagers do?
Although I love sports, if your'e not into sports, (specifically wrestling)those sections of his story may be a bit long, as his challenges in the world of sports are profiled to a great extent.
Still, Kyle's story is one of inspiration and determination, and well worth the read. I think it would be especially interesting to other teens and any athlete.
I must admit, when I saw him on Oprah, "walking" into the studio on the stumps of his elbows and knees, then climbing up on the couch for the interview, I felt strange. Not pity, maybe just an uncomfortable feeling, a sight rarely seen. But once the interview began I felt Kyle was just as "normal" as anyone. More importantly, he had his head on straight. He doesn't stress the small stuff, and looks at the positive things in life.
This made me appreciate his book even more.
It also proves once again that one's state of mind emerges as the most important asset an individual possesses.
You can pick up Kyle's story at most bookstores or order it on Amazon.com
IN THE NEWS_ BUCKING TREND, 9 IN 10 WITH AUTISM LAND JOBS AFTER TRAINING
From Disability Scoop...
When given the right supports and training, a new study suggests that nearly all young people with autism who qualify for supported employment can learn to excel on the job.
Nine out of 10 transition-age youth with autism who participated in an intensive job training program were working part-time earning at least minimum wage three months after graduating high school. What's more, 87 percent were still working after 12 months.
By comparison, just 6 percent of their peers with autism who did not participate in the intervention were employed three months after graduation and only 12 percent were working after a year, according to findings published in the April issue of the journal Autism.
"This study shows the c;ear-cut potential vocationally of youth with autism and also the receptivity of employers to hiring and retaining young people with autism," said Paul Wehman of Vorginia Commonwealth University who led the research.
For the study, researchers looked at 31 students on the spectrum ages 18 to 21 who participated in a program called Project SEARCH plus Autism Spectrum Disorder Supports. The experiences of these young people were then compared to 18 of their peers with autism who completed high school without this type of intensive workplace training. All of those studied were on track for a "special diploma" because they could not meet the academic requirements for a traditional diploma.
During the nine-month intervention, individuals spend their last year of high school rotating through internships at large community businesses like hospitals, government offices or banking centers where they receive support on the job and participate in classroom time. The program incorporates the use of applied behavior analysis techniques to best the address the social and communications challenges of those on the spectrum.
The differences between those in the Project SEARCH group and the control group were striking, researchers indicated. Nearly everyone who received the job training was able to find and maintain employment after finishing school and saw increased hours and wages over time while those who did not participate struggled to find work and, when they did, earned less than a dollar per hour on average.
Beyond employment alone, researchers said that individuals in the intervention group were able to become less dependent on supports over time while their peers who did not participate in Project SEARCH plus Autism Spectrum Disorder Supports became more dependent.
"In many cases, we saw students with very high support needs significantly reduce their support needs," said Carol Schall, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who worked on the study.
"For example, one person required very frequent verbal prompting to demonstrate appropriate social interaction with his co-workers. Initially, he would giggle, stare inappropriately at co-workers and supervisors and walk by co-workers when they spoke to him. He required verbal prompting at least once a day for 30 minutes to 2 hours daily. By the end of the study, he required no support in this area at all.
Wehman, Schall and their colleagues wrote in their findings that the intensive internships "acted as the vocational equivalent of intensive early intervention"that has become standard treatment for young children on the spectrum.
Further evaluation of the employment training approach is underway and the researchers said they are working to standardize the program by developing a manual so that it can be replicated by schools across the country.
When given the right supports and training, a new study suggests that nearly all young people with autism who qualify for supported employment can learn to excel on the job.
Nine out of 10 transition-age youth with autism who participated in an intensive job training program were working part-time earning at least minimum wage three months after graduating high school. What's more, 87 percent were still working after 12 months.
By comparison, just 6 percent of their peers with autism who did not participate in the intervention were employed three months after graduation and only 12 percent were working after a year, according to findings published in the April issue of the journal Autism.
"This study shows the c;ear-cut potential vocationally of youth with autism and also the receptivity of employers to hiring and retaining young people with autism," said Paul Wehman of Vorginia Commonwealth University who led the research.
For the study, researchers looked at 31 students on the spectrum ages 18 to 21 who participated in a program called Project SEARCH plus Autism Spectrum Disorder Supports. The experiences of these young people were then compared to 18 of their peers with autism who completed high school without this type of intensive workplace training. All of those studied were on track for a "special diploma" because they could not meet the academic requirements for a traditional diploma.
During the nine-month intervention, individuals spend their last year of high school rotating through internships at large community businesses like hospitals, government offices or banking centers where they receive support on the job and participate in classroom time. The program incorporates the use of applied behavior analysis techniques to best the address the social and communications challenges of those on the spectrum.
The differences between those in the Project SEARCH group and the control group were striking, researchers indicated. Nearly everyone who received the job training was able to find and maintain employment after finishing school and saw increased hours and wages over time while those who did not participate struggled to find work and, when they did, earned less than a dollar per hour on average.
Beyond employment alone, researchers said that individuals in the intervention group were able to become less dependent on supports over time while their peers who did not participate in Project SEARCH plus Autism Spectrum Disorder Supports became more dependent.
"In many cases, we saw students with very high support needs significantly reduce their support needs," said Carol Schall, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who worked on the study.
"For example, one person required very frequent verbal prompting to demonstrate appropriate social interaction with his co-workers. Initially, he would giggle, stare inappropriately at co-workers and supervisors and walk by co-workers when they spoke to him. He required verbal prompting at least once a day for 30 minutes to 2 hours daily. By the end of the study, he required no support in this area at all.
Wehman, Schall and their colleagues wrote in their findings that the intensive internships "acted as the vocational equivalent of intensive early intervention"that has become standard treatment for young children on the spectrum.
Further evaluation of the employment training approach is underway and the researchers said they are working to standardize the program by developing a manual so that it can be replicated by schools across the country.
Monday, March 13, 2017
BASEBALL QUIZ
Yet another Baseball Quiz...
1. Who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player and the Baseball hall of Fame as an umpire?
2. Name the pitcher, batter, and outfielder who were involved in the last out of the 1969 World Series (Hint- "Miracle Mets" beat the Baltimore Orioles in 5 games).
3. Name the first player to reach 3,000 hits in the 20th century.
A- Ty Cobb
B- Honus Wagner
C- Tris Speaker
D- Cap Anson
4. Which team had the youngest starting lineup in baseball history?
A- 1963 Colt .45s
B- 1964 Mets
C- 1970 Pilots
D- 1975 Expos
5. Who led in all Triple Crown categories the latest in the season without winning?
A- Babe Ruth
B- Ted Williams
C- Chuck Klein
D- Johnny Mize
6. Rank the following tandems by the number of homers they hit as teammates.
A- Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews
B- Willie Mays and Willie McCovey
C- Duke Snider and Gil Hodges
D- Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
7. Which of the following players hit the most home runs in a single park?
A- Ted Williams, Fenway Park
B- Ernie Banks, Wrigley Field
C- Stan Musial, Busch Stadium
D- Mel Otto, Polo Grounds
8. Rank the following Hall of Fame pitchers by who had the best record in 1-0 games.
A- Nolan Ryan
B- Ferguson Jenkins
C- Bert Blyeven
D- Greg Maddux
9. Which team had two .400 hitters the latest in a season?
A- Tigers
B- Phillies
C- Cardinals
D- Yankees
10.Name the first player whose career began after World War II to hit 500 home runs
A- Eddie Mathews
B- Mickey Mantle
C- Hank Aaron
D- Willie Mays
ANSWERS-
1.Cal Hubbard
2. Jerry Koosman, Davey Johnson and Cleon Jones
3. B
4. A
5. B ( 1949)
6. A ( 863 homers)
7. D ( 323 homers)
8. D (16-3); A ( 14-9); C ( 15-10 ); B ( 12-13)
9. B (1930- Chuck Klein & Lefty O'Doul)
10. D
1. Who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player and the Baseball hall of Fame as an umpire?
2. Name the pitcher, batter, and outfielder who were involved in the last out of the 1969 World Series (Hint- "Miracle Mets" beat the Baltimore Orioles in 5 games).
3. Name the first player to reach 3,000 hits in the 20th century.
A- Ty Cobb
B- Honus Wagner
C- Tris Speaker
D- Cap Anson
4. Which team had the youngest starting lineup in baseball history?
A- 1963 Colt .45s
B- 1964 Mets
C- 1970 Pilots
D- 1975 Expos
5. Who led in all Triple Crown categories the latest in the season without winning?
A- Babe Ruth
B- Ted Williams
C- Chuck Klein
D- Johnny Mize
6. Rank the following tandems by the number of homers they hit as teammates.
A- Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews
B- Willie Mays and Willie McCovey
C- Duke Snider and Gil Hodges
D- Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig
7. Which of the following players hit the most home runs in a single park?
A- Ted Williams, Fenway Park
B- Ernie Banks, Wrigley Field
C- Stan Musial, Busch Stadium
D- Mel Otto, Polo Grounds
8. Rank the following Hall of Fame pitchers by who had the best record in 1-0 games.
A- Nolan Ryan
B- Ferguson Jenkins
C- Bert Blyeven
D- Greg Maddux
9. Which team had two .400 hitters the latest in a season?
A- Tigers
B- Phillies
C- Cardinals
D- Yankees
10.Name the first player whose career began after World War II to hit 500 home runs
A- Eddie Mathews
B- Mickey Mantle
C- Hank Aaron
D- Willie Mays
ANSWERS-
1.Cal Hubbard
2. Jerry Koosman, Davey Johnson and Cleon Jones
3. B
4. A
5. B ( 1949)
6. A ( 863 homers)
7. D ( 323 homers)
8. D (16-3); A ( 14-9); C ( 15-10 ); B ( 12-13)
9. B (1930- Chuck Klein & Lefty O'Doul)
10. D
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER
A lot going on with Philly sports...
EAGLES-
Bringing back QB Nick Foles was another good move by the Birds. He is still young and will work well with Carson Wentz. If Wentz gets hurt the Eagles are screwed anyway, plus Foles can fill in for a game or two without missing a beat. Most of all, it frees up tons of cap space when the teams trades Chase Daniels after June 1.
There may be a few more moves until the draft, but basically the major moves until late April will be cuts. Mathews, Kelcie and Kendricks are all on borrowed time. Expect the Birds to try and trade many of these names around the draft.
Speaking of which, the discussion will heat up about what the team does in the upcoming draft. Stay at #14 and take..a much-needed corner back? Or, since the draft is rich in defensive backs, use that first round pick for a young wide receiver ( Mike Williams?) or an explosive running back ( Delvin Cook?) and still have quality corner backs to take in the second and third rounds? Would they consider taking a CB with the first pick, then trading their second rounder to get back into the late first round and take Stanford RB Christian McCafferty?
So far, I love the Eagles' off-season moves. They haven't tied themselves up in long-term contracts, yet they have given the fans hope for an interesting season to come. It's refreshing to see a Philly team play for today, not just kick the can down the road for the future ( which never seems to come).
The schedule comes out in mid- April, and it should be a favorable one for the Eagles. Since the Phillies are on the road the first weekend of the NFL season in September, look for the Eagles to start the year at home. Wouldn't it be a great kick starter to play the Dallas Cowboys on a Sunday night prime-time opener?
PHILLIES-
The kids are slowly being assigned to their minor league teams this week. It's been the best part of spring training, watching the future on display. I've been most impressed with 1B Rhys Hoskins and 2B Scott Kingery, both already designated for assignment. Hoskins has power- he hit 38 homers in Reading last summer- but he seems more disciplined at the plate than the other prospects, taking walks in camp. Kingery looks like a gritty, hard-nosed player with surprising power, a Chase Utley-type. He should be a fan favorite in Philadelphia. If he continues to progress between reading and Lehigh Valley this summer, look for the Phillies to trade Cesar Hernandez down the road to open up a spot for Kingery.
OF Roman Quinn should have made this roster, if not for the signings of veterans Howie Kendricks and Michael Saunders. Quinn has shown speed, defense and even a touch of power in camp. Most of all, he has provided youth and spark and hustle into the line-up. He and Aaron Altherr should be the extra outfielders, who play often to stay sharp off the bench. Quinn is the team's only legitimate lead-off hitter. He can take a walk, steal a base and make things happen. Hopefully, if Quinn is sent down to Lehigh Valley, we see him again by mid-season.
Nick Williams looks like a keeper; J.P. Crawford is still young, but needs to have a big year at Lehigh Valley in order to take the next step to the majors and convince the Phillies that he really is the future; Dylan Cozens strikes out too much but has all the tools- power, speed, a strong arm; Jorge Alfaro will take over at the catcher spot for Cameron Rupp soon, and give the Phils another valuable trade chip in Rupp.
Angelo Cataldi , the long-time WIP sport radio host, brought up a good topic last week: Aaron Nola. Cataldi is frustrated with Nola and is starting to question his talent and durability. I agree, but I'm a bit more optimistic about Nola's future. This is a big year for the pitcher. He is still only 24, but he has to prove he can stay healthy and is worthy of being the #1 pick of the Phillies a few years ago. Nola will never be a true ace- he lacks the stuff- but can be a solid 2 or 3. The team knew this when they drafted him. He has an average fastball, and needs to locate and have pin-point control to be a Greg Maddux-type in the majors.
It will be good for Nola to be the # 5 guy in the rotation this season. It will give him more rest, yet he needs to prove that he can not only hold-up for an entire year, but be productive too. Anything less than 10 wins would be a disappointment.
Which again illustrates the need down the road for a #1 starter. The team had nice pitching depth- for the frist time in a long time- but none of the current crop of hurlers looks like an ace. This can be addressed in free agency or trades. Most scouts feel the Phillies' best arms are actually in the lower minors, which gives fans hope for years to come.
FLYERS-
Looks like the team won't make the playoffs, but I think Coach Hackstol will return next year. The Flyers are between a rock and a hard place with young players on the doorstep and possibly older, aging veterans. Their goalie situation is cloudy, as they extended Michael Niruth's contract, yet Steve Mason has played better as of late. There is still a lot of promise with the young kids, but as with many Philly teams, when will the future be now?
SIXERS-
All of the talk has died down about the front office dishonesty and the injuries because no one really cares now. The 76ers are playing out the string and trying to hold onto their draft spot (currently # 5).The emergence of Dario Saric may be the most compelling thing to watch now. The NBA Lottery is in mid-May. while the draft occurs in late June. Trade rumors will fly.
VILLANOVA-
Even though Villanova secured the overall #1 slot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in their history, they are still complaining about being in the same bracket as Duke. They should feel lucky they are in the East ( in Buffalo, NY) and won't have to travel. If the Cats are good enough- and I think they are- they will have to beat teams like Duke anyway, so who cares? It will be another fun run in March Madness, and it wil be a switch to actually have one of the local teams favored to win it all. A repeat of the college basketball crown would be the ultimate achievement for Nova. Who is gonna beat them?
EAGLES-
Bringing back QB Nick Foles was another good move by the Birds. He is still young and will work well with Carson Wentz. If Wentz gets hurt the Eagles are screwed anyway, plus Foles can fill in for a game or two without missing a beat. Most of all, it frees up tons of cap space when the teams trades Chase Daniels after June 1.
There may be a few more moves until the draft, but basically the major moves until late April will be cuts. Mathews, Kelcie and Kendricks are all on borrowed time. Expect the Birds to try and trade many of these names around the draft.
Speaking of which, the discussion will heat up about what the team does in the upcoming draft. Stay at #14 and take..a much-needed corner back? Or, since the draft is rich in defensive backs, use that first round pick for a young wide receiver ( Mike Williams?) or an explosive running back ( Delvin Cook?) and still have quality corner backs to take in the second and third rounds? Would they consider taking a CB with the first pick, then trading their second rounder to get back into the late first round and take Stanford RB Christian McCafferty?
So far, I love the Eagles' off-season moves. They haven't tied themselves up in long-term contracts, yet they have given the fans hope for an interesting season to come. It's refreshing to see a Philly team play for today, not just kick the can down the road for the future ( which never seems to come).
The schedule comes out in mid- April, and it should be a favorable one for the Eagles. Since the Phillies are on the road the first weekend of the NFL season in September, look for the Eagles to start the year at home. Wouldn't it be a great kick starter to play the Dallas Cowboys on a Sunday night prime-time opener?
PHILLIES-
The kids are slowly being assigned to their minor league teams this week. It's been the best part of spring training, watching the future on display. I've been most impressed with 1B Rhys Hoskins and 2B Scott Kingery, both already designated for assignment. Hoskins has power- he hit 38 homers in Reading last summer- but he seems more disciplined at the plate than the other prospects, taking walks in camp. Kingery looks like a gritty, hard-nosed player with surprising power, a Chase Utley-type. He should be a fan favorite in Philadelphia. If he continues to progress between reading and Lehigh Valley this summer, look for the Phillies to trade Cesar Hernandez down the road to open up a spot for Kingery.
OF Roman Quinn should have made this roster, if not for the signings of veterans Howie Kendricks and Michael Saunders. Quinn has shown speed, defense and even a touch of power in camp. Most of all, he has provided youth and spark and hustle into the line-up. He and Aaron Altherr should be the extra outfielders, who play often to stay sharp off the bench. Quinn is the team's only legitimate lead-off hitter. He can take a walk, steal a base and make things happen. Hopefully, if Quinn is sent down to Lehigh Valley, we see him again by mid-season.
Nick Williams looks like a keeper; J.P. Crawford is still young, but needs to have a big year at Lehigh Valley in order to take the next step to the majors and convince the Phillies that he really is the future; Dylan Cozens strikes out too much but has all the tools- power, speed, a strong arm; Jorge Alfaro will take over at the catcher spot for Cameron Rupp soon, and give the Phils another valuable trade chip in Rupp.
Angelo Cataldi , the long-time WIP sport radio host, brought up a good topic last week: Aaron Nola. Cataldi is frustrated with Nola and is starting to question his talent and durability. I agree, but I'm a bit more optimistic about Nola's future. This is a big year for the pitcher. He is still only 24, but he has to prove he can stay healthy and is worthy of being the #1 pick of the Phillies a few years ago. Nola will never be a true ace- he lacks the stuff- but can be a solid 2 or 3. The team knew this when they drafted him. He has an average fastball, and needs to locate and have pin-point control to be a Greg Maddux-type in the majors.
It will be good for Nola to be the # 5 guy in the rotation this season. It will give him more rest, yet he needs to prove that he can not only hold-up for an entire year, but be productive too. Anything less than 10 wins would be a disappointment.
Which again illustrates the need down the road for a #1 starter. The team had nice pitching depth- for the frist time in a long time- but none of the current crop of hurlers looks like an ace. This can be addressed in free agency or trades. Most scouts feel the Phillies' best arms are actually in the lower minors, which gives fans hope for years to come.
FLYERS-
Looks like the team won't make the playoffs, but I think Coach Hackstol will return next year. The Flyers are between a rock and a hard place with young players on the doorstep and possibly older, aging veterans. Their goalie situation is cloudy, as they extended Michael Niruth's contract, yet Steve Mason has played better as of late. There is still a lot of promise with the young kids, but as with many Philly teams, when will the future be now?
SIXERS-
All of the talk has died down about the front office dishonesty and the injuries because no one really cares now. The 76ers are playing out the string and trying to hold onto their draft spot (currently # 5).The emergence of Dario Saric may be the most compelling thing to watch now. The NBA Lottery is in mid-May. while the draft occurs in late June. Trade rumors will fly.
VILLANOVA-
Even though Villanova secured the overall #1 slot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in their history, they are still complaining about being in the same bracket as Duke. They should feel lucky they are in the East ( in Buffalo, NY) and won't have to travel. If the Cats are good enough- and I think they are- they will have to beat teams like Duke anyway, so who cares? It will be another fun run in March Madness, and it wil be a switch to actually have one of the local teams favored to win it all. A repeat of the college basketball crown would be the ultimate achievement for Nova. Who is gonna beat them?
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